"Mommy!"

The scream resonated all around the apartment, making Annabeth Chase-Jackson sigh for what she thought was the nth time. Even with the door locked, her son's shouting could be heard. Seconds later, the doorknob began to fumble a little, indicating the intentions of the young child.

"Luke, stop shouting, please..." Annabeth could hear her husband, Percy, pleading their little boy from the other side of the door. "Mommy is working for now, so it's Luke and Daddy's time-"

"Mommy!"

Evidently, Luke didn't yet fully understand the concept of personal space nor work. Annabeth wanted to be upset, wanted to be frustrated, wanted to be angry. More than once, she wondered if the neighbors wanted to evict them because of the loud noise their four-year-old kept creating.

"Lucas, stop screaming." Even with a wall between them, Annabeth felt Percy's patience slipping away. He was the one who could manage Luke the best- not that Annabeth was terrible at it, Percy was simply more playful -but seemed that this tantrum was enough for him to start losing his composture.

Hence, the full first name being mentioned.

Before either of the men inside the house retaliated, Annabeth sighed and got up from her chair, opening the door and watching the hilarious scene of toddler Luke glaring with all his might to his father, who was not backing down either.

"What's all this noise?" She asked, leaning against the doorframe, earning the attention of both.

"Mommy!" Luke immediately sought to be lifted in her arms and Annabeth complied, only to making stop screaming.

"Luke, why are you screaming? And why are you not listening to your father?" Annabeth used her stern voice, one she knew it took Percy a long time to pull out. He just didn't have it in him and she loved him for that. Obviously, Luke could hear the scolding and started to fumble in her arms, looking down. "What was that?" Annabeth looked at him once she saw him mumbling something.

"Want Mommy and Luke time." Luke explained, earning a frown from his mother. Percy sighed and closed his eyes, as if finally understanding where this was going. "No books, pway!" The toddler insisted, looking at her with a pout.

"Luke, Mommy is working right now, she can't play with you..." Luke didn't like that answer because he pouted more and crossed his little arms around his own chest, showing he was upset. "How about this? Mommy will tell you two stories before bed tonight if you behave good for Daddy, OK?"

The promise of stories seemed to work and Luke looked thoughtful before nodding. However, he kept the pout before scurrying away to play with the toys scattered around the living room, under the careful and silent look of both his parents.

"Want something to drink?" Percy offered his wife, who nodded and followed him to the kitchen. "Sorry about the interruption, I know this project is bog, despite what the situation says..." He apologized while place a kettle on the stove.

"I'm sure he has it worst being lock down every day for the entire winter so far..." Annabeth pointed out, leaning against the counter. Percy looked at his wife, knowing she was in fully thinking mode. "You really think is bad what I'm doing?"

"What? Work from home?" Clueless Percy made an appearance and Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"No, Seaweed Brain." The fond nickname made a smile bloom on their faces before going back to serious. "I meant focusing too much on work. Think about it." Annabeth continued when Percy opened his mouth. "You go to work on the morning at the aquarium, but you come back before lunch, cook, have time with Luke and even manage to make dinner and work on reports and I-"

"I'll stop you right there for a second, Wise Girl." Percy grabbed her hands gently in his, looking serious. "First, both our jobs aren't exactly alike and cannot be compared. Second, I have the advantage of being able to talk to marine animals who simply tell me what's wrong instead of guessing their needs while you... well, you have it worst in that area..."

"Excuse me?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow, not fully understanding.

"Annabeth, human minds are in constant change, unlike the animals... I could never deal with people disagreeing and making me change an entire floor because 'the fen shui of the windows does not reflect the welcome vibe we want'." Annabeth snorted, remembering that particular client and how much she ranted to Percy afterwards. "You just need to find a balance."

"Balance? How do you propose that?" To say Annabeth was intrigued was to put it lightly.

"How about a schedule? You like those and will help you relax and have fresh perspective every once in a while..." Annabeth considered the idea, while Percy prepared her drink. It was true, she had been locked inside her office, trying to fit the client's idea but she was stuck and concluded to finish the project before she went crazy.

"Sounds like a plan. And you know I like those..." She chuckled while Percy handed her the drink.

"That's what I thought... you should add Luke and Mommy time in there..." Annabeth smirked and leaned against her husband's ear.

"How about I scheduled Seaweed Brain and Wise Girl time in there as well?" She whispered in his ear, looking completely smug when Percy was render speechless. Annabeth chuckled and walked back to her office.

Of course, with a following Percy behind, she wasn't going to get that far away. Percy wrapped his arms around her waist, making her laugh hard and earn Luke's attention, who decided his parents were more fun than his toys.

"Mommy! Daddy! Pway wif Luke!" The toddler demanded with his small lisp, who only made him more adorable on the eyes of his parents. Annabeth and Percy shared a look, all smiles before walking to him and sitting down by his side. Luke beamed at them before climbing on his mother's lap and deciding he wanted to create an aquarium made of Lego's for his dolphin plush.

Looking at how Luke and Percy played and interacted, Annabeth smiled to herself and made up her mind.

Balance. She only had to find balance.

1/4 update. A/N at the end.