Chapter One
Discovery
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Annabeth Jackson reached over to the bedside table and pressed snooze on the alarm clock. She yawned and opened her eyes. As she sat up she looked over at her husband, Percy, still asleep his arms wrapped around her.
"Percy," Annabeth said, "You have to be at the Camp in an hour. You better hurry and get up."
"Five more minutes, Mom," Percy muttered, tiredly.
Annabeth rolled her eyes and slapped Percy on the arm.
"Ow!" Percy yelped, opening his eyes.
"I'm not Sally, don't call me mom!" Annabeth said sighing, "Now get up if you want me to cook you breakfast before I have to get ready for work."
"Relax, Wise Girl," Percy said, "I know you're not my mom. You're my loving, adorable wife."
"Well, I'm happy you finally learned it after six and half years of marriage," Annabeth said.
Percy chuckled. Annabeth shook her head and got out of bed. The sunlight streamed in through the window of their apartment in New York. They had only lived in these apartment for a few months now, after having lived at Camp for the past six years.
Chiron had offer to allow them to live at Camp Half-blood when they first got married. Percy just started a job as a camp counselor and Annabeth started her job on remodeling Olympus, now that the war with Gaea is over.
Percy and Annabeth had decided to wait for children for a few years into their marriage, so they could focus on their jobs. They also where worried about any more prophecies. But now that all the seven are going off getting married and having kids Percy and Annabeth decided that it was time to start a family.
Annabeth stood up and suddenly felt dizzy.
"Whoa," she muttered, sitting back down.
"Something wrong?" Percy muttered.
"Stood up too fast," Annabeth said, "I'm fine."
She stood up again and suddenly tasted bile in her mouth. She hurried out of the bedroom and toward the bathroom. She reached the toilet just in time, before she threw up the toilet bowl.
"Annabeth?" Percy said, peering into the bathroom.
Annabeth signed and looked up from the toilet. Ron walked over to her and helped her sit down against the bathtub.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Food poisoning, I think," Annabeth said.
"You should go back to bed," Percy said, "You can't go into work like this."
"But I have a big meeting today with the rebuilding crew," Annabeth said, "I have too!"
"You're the designer," Percy said, "You can work from home."
Percy stood up and walked over to the sink. He took a small plastic cup and filled it with water, then handed it to Annabeth. Annabeth smiled at him gratefully and took the cup, then drank from it. She felt her stomach churn again, and hurried back to the toilet, threw up again.
"Maybe I shouldn't go into work either," Percy said. "I can take care of you."
Annabeth sat back against the side of the bathtub again.
"You're going, Percy," Annabeth said. "Relax. The is probably a twenty-four hour bug. I'll be fine. I just need to go back to bed."
"I'll make you something before I go to work," Percy said, "Okay?"
Annabeth nodded.
"Can you make it back to the bedroom without throwing up your guts again?" Percy asked.
Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"I think I can manage, Percy," she said.
Percy nodded and walked out of the bathroom. Annabeth stood up, and she walked past the mirror, she realized something, She turned to the mirror and looked at herself. She didn't look too pale. She felt her head. It wasn't warm. So it couldn't be the flu.
"Oh," Annabeth said, her eyes widening, "Ohh… it can't be."
Annabeth's mind raced as she headed back into the bedroom. She walked over to the large oak desk and opened the top drawer in it. She took out a small booklet and opened it to a calendar. She went back through the months in the calendar, the back to the current month.
"Oh, Gods," she muttered, "Could it be?"
"Annabeth?" Percy said.
Annabeth looked up, Percy was standing in the doorway.
"What do you want for breakfast?" He asked.
"I…" Annabeth said, looking back at the calendar, "I can make it myself."
"Wise Girl, you're sick," Percy said, "I'll do it."
"You're going to be late Seaweed Brain, if you focus on me," Annabeth said, "I'll be fine. I just need some rest."
Percy sighed and walked over the Annabeth. He put his hand on her head.
"Well, you're not burning up," he said.
"See," Annabeth said.. "It's probably nothing."
"Perhaps it is stress," Percy said, "You need a day off. You've been very busy."
"Yeah," Annabeth said, "I'll be fine. Okay?"
Annabeth pulled Percy toward her and kissed him.
"You just get ready for work," she said.
Percy nodded. Annabeth laid back on the bed and watched Percy as he walked around the room, looking for clothes for the day. She smiled as she glanced sideways at her calendar. It was the middle of the second week of the month. She realized at that moment that she had missed her period. She felt tears come to her eyes. Could that really be what was going on? Percy and her had been trying for a while now.
"You okay?" Percy asked, looking at Annabeth, putting on his sneakers.
Annabeth looked back at Percy and smiled.
She couldn't tell him yet. She wasn't even sure herself. She would have to make sure of it before she told him.
"I'll be fine," Annabeth said, "I just need some rest."
"Okay," Percy said, "I'll go to work then."
He walked over to Annabeth.
"You send me an Iris message if you need anything, okay?" Percy asked, "I'll ride Blackjack if I have to."
"I'll be fine," Annabeth said, for what felt like the millionth time.
"I love you," Percy said.
Annabeth smiled, and she felt her eyes water.
"I love you too, Percy," she kissed him back. He walked out to the room.
A little while later, as Annabeth laid in bed, staring up at the ceiling and thinking about what she might have discovered, she heard the sound of Blackjack taking off which meant Percy had left for work at Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth stood up slowly and left the bedroom and walked towards the living room. She grabbed her cell phone, Leo made special phones so that demigods could have so monster won't attack. She scrolled through her contacts looking for her doctor, Dr. Grey.
She dialed the number and was greeted by her doctors secretary.
"Good Morning," the receptionist said, "How many I help you?"
"Oh. Hello," Annabeth said, "This is Annabeth Jackson, and I was wondering if I could make an appointment for later today?"
"Is it urgent?" the receptionist asked.
"I think so," Annabeth said.
She explained to the secretary what was going on.
"Oh, well, then you shouldn't wait very long to find out!" the receptionist said, "I can set up an appointment for ten-o-clock this morning."
"Okay," Annabeth said, "I'll be there at ten."
She told the receptionist all the needed information.
"I'll have that appointment set up for you," the receptionist said, "Good luck!"
"Er… thanks," Annabeth said grinning.
A little over three hours later, Annabeth was sitting in one of the hospital rooms in the maternity ward of St. Mungo's. She was dressed in hospital robes, and was bare underneath it. For the past thirty minutes, she had gone through procedures with Dr. Grey.
The door to the room opened, and Dr. Grey walked in, carrying a clip board.
"Mrs. Jackson," Dr. Grey said, "I have some news for you."
"I'm pregnant?" Annabeth asked.
Dr. Grey grinned.
"If I'm correct," Grey said, "which I usually am, I'd say you are almost eight weeks into your pregnancy."
"Oh, my gods," Annabeth said, feeling tears in her eyes, "Eight weeks?"
"I'd say conception was probably around the second week of March," Dr. Grey said.
"Second week of March," Annabeth said, blushing.
"I take it you have a good idea of when it happened then?" Dr. Grey said, grinning.
"Er… I think so," Annabeth said.
"Well, congratulations," Dr. Grey said, "This is your first baby, is it not?"
"Oh, yeah," Annabeth said.
Annabeth suddenly felt the urge to use the rest room.
"Er… I'll be right back," she said, "I have to -er- use the little girls room."
Dr. Grey chuckled and nodded. Annabeth stood up and raced to the in-room restroom, and sat on the toilet.
"That is to be expected, Mrs. Jackson," Dr. Grey said, outside the bathroom, "You'll find you'll be doing that a lot."
"Fantastic," Annabeth said, "I'll just take up residency in my bathroom then."
When she was finished, she walked back into the room.
"Do you wish for me to tell you what else you'll be expecting during the coming months?" Dr. Grey asked.
"Er… you don't have to," Annabeth said, "I had several friends and family members who have been through this before. Between them and books, I think I'll be fine."
"Well then," Dr. Grey said, "I think we are finished for now. I'll probably be seeing you a lot in the next few months. That is… unless…"
"Unless what?" Hermione asked.
Annabeth raised her eyebrows.
"Well I have notice that you are the daughter of Athena, I'm the daughter of Apollo," Dr. Grey stated, "And most half bloods tend to want to be guide through their pregnancies by Chiron, or someone at Camp."
"Oh," Annabeth said, "I hadn't thought of that. I'm not sure. My husband is a counselor at Camp Half-Blood and he'll trust Chiron. But… well, what do you suggest?"
"I have treated many half bloods in my many years of practice, Mrs. Jackson, "Dr. Grey said. "Most have choose to have Chiron help them through their pregnancies. But, our way of medicine is more advanced, with our machines and all."
"Oh?" Annabeth said. "Right."
"I suggest that you and your husband talk about it," Dr. Grey said. "Do your research on both ways."
"Right… my husband," Annabeth said, chuckling.
"You didn't tell him you thought you might be pregnant, did you?" Dr. Grey asked.
"No," Annabeth said, "He just thought it was the flu or something."
"Well, I'm sure he'll be happy to hear the news," Dr. Grey said grinning.
"I hope so," Annabeth said.
"Was this planned?" Dr. Grey asked.
'We've been trying for a while now," Annabeth said, "I just didn't realize… end of July, you said?"
"Yeah," Dr. Grey said.
"Wow," Annabeth said, laughing.
"Congratulations, again," Dr. Grey said, "This is quite the early birthday present for you."
"Er… oh, right yeah," Annabeth said, "My birthday's on Friday. In all this excitement, I sort of forgot."
"I'll just let you get dressed," Dr. Grey said.
Annabeth nodded and Dr. Grey walked out of the room. Annabeth took off her gown and looked at her belly. She felt tears in her eyes again. Was there really a child growing inside her? Her and Percy's own little bundle of joy? She chuckles to herself, as she wiped away her tears. As she got dressed, she wondered how to break the news to Percy. Then she realized the perfect time. She and Percy would be celebrating her birthday with a private dinner at their house fir her, which would happen Friday evening. She could tell him then. She just wondered if she could keep the secret until then.
(Percy's PoV - May 4th, 2018)
"So, it is Annabeth's birthday today," Grover asked, "Anything planned?"
Percy was sitting with Grover at the counselor table at Camp Half-Blood, enjoying a small lunch during their break.
"She's taken the matter into her own hands," Percy said, shrugging, "She said she's fixing dinner for us tonight. I wanted to go out somewhere with her, but she insisted."
"Perhaps she isn't in the mood to go out today," Grover said. "Didn't you say she wasn't feeling well?"
"I think she's been," Percy said, "But she doesn't want me to worry about it. She said she went to the doctor a few days ago."
"What are Annabeth's symptoms?" Grover asked.
"She's been puking her guts out the past few days," Percy said. "At random moments she races off to the bathroom. I'm worried about her, mate. What if it is something bad?"
"I don't think it is too bad, Perce," Grover said, "Maybe she'll tell you what's going on. Perhaps you can ask her tonight."
"I'd hate to ruin her birthday because I was worried about her," Percy said, "Like you said, it is probably nothing too bad. Anyways, so… how's Pan?"
"You ask me that every day, bro," Grover said, grinning, "He's great. He's been sitting up by himself. And he tends to grab at my necklace that Juniper gave me for my birthday. He has quite the strong grip. He also copies my facial expressions when I play with him. Juniper does that with him too. She can't get enough of it."
Percy chuckled.
"Relax, bro," Grover said, "You'll be in my position sooner or later and you won't be able to stop talking about about your child."
"I know," Percy said, "I just wonder when it will happen. Annabeth and I hav been trying for a while now. I don't like to talk about it with her, but sometimes I wonder if there is something wrong with me. Like if I'm not capable of… you know… making Annabeth pregnant."
"A lot of guys think that at some point or another, Percy," Grover said.
"Did you?" Percy asked.
"Maybe once or twice," Grover said, "And then Juniper and I found out that she was pregnant."
Percy nodded.
"You shouldn't worry about it," Grover said, "Your time to be a father will come. And when it does, you'll find that you're the happiest bloke in the world."
(Annabeth's PoV- May 4th, 2018)
Annabeth had taken the full day off of work for her birthday, even though she had regret it. She had already taken one day off that week, when she had first discovered she was pregnant, and due to her symptoms of nausea and her overactive bladder, she hadn't been too focused on anything the past couple days when she was at work. She knew that, in a few months, she would have to take a long maternity leave, and would have to find a temporary replacement as Head of her department. That only made her regret not being at work even more. She was quite important person in her job.
The rebuilding of Olympus was only now finally in motion, and Annabeth was still trying to help everything come together. She had quite the opposition when it came to her job. Between the gods and goddess always changing what the wanted, and the War with Gaea have really put a stop to the rebuilding process. Now that the gods have finally decided what the wanted and Gaea was defeated, Annabeth could finally work on Olympus.
Ever since she learned that she was pregnant, Annabeth had wondered how she would break the news to Percy. She knew the best date would be her birthday, and now the day has finally came. Keeping her announcement a surprise had been rather challenging. Nausea and her overactive bladder had sent her to the bathroom numerous times. Unfortunately most of the time when this happened, it was at home with Percy. She could see the worst in Percy's face whenever this happened. In fact he had shown up at the bathroom door many times, just looking at her. He must have thought she was still ill. There were times were she wanted to tell him what was going on, but this is such an important moment in their lives, and she wanted to make it special.
Percy had sent her a message earlier in the day, telling her he'd be home around seven or so, because he wanted to pick up some stuff. Annabeth had deduced that Percy hadn't bought her birthday present yet, and he was probably trying to get one, quite literally, last minute. She wasn't too particularly curious about what Percy was giving her for her birthday. He had already given her the best present in the world… he just didn't know it yet.
Annabeth had spent a few hours setting up dinner for her and Percy. She had made lasagna with a side salad, and had put candles and fancy dinnerware on the table. When everything was set up, it was a little over a half-an-hour until seven, she took a shower and put on a nice semi-formal outfit for the evening. She just hoped her current situation wouldn't interfere with her plans for the evening.
The lasagna was done when Annabeth returned to the kitchen, and she was in the process of cutting it, when she heard Blackjack outside that meant Percy was home. She smiled when she heard the front door open and close, and a moment later, she turned to see Percy walking into the kitchen. He had a paper bag in his hand.
"Smells delicious!" Percy said, his eyes on the lasagna, "You look beautiful. Is this all for me?"
Annabeth nodded. Percy smiled and walked over her. He put his arms around her, hugging her from behind.
"You didn't have to do this, you know," Percy said, "It is your birthday, not mine. I should be the one spoiling you. I feel like I'm not doing enough."
Annabeth smiled turned and kissed Percy deeply on the lips.
"You've done quite a bit, Percy," she said.
"Well, I've done a bit more," Percy said.
"My birthday present?" Annabeth asked.
"Mmhmmm," Percy said. "You're not the only one who has planned something special tonight. I also bought this…"
He backed away and opened up the paper sack, then took out a bottle of fireball. Annabeth's heart sank. She knew she wouldn't be able to have any of it, given her condition. Unfortunately Percy didn't know that yet.
"Er… put it on ice," Annabeth said, "We can let it chill."
She smiled, but she had a feeling it looked quite fake. She was right, because she saw the look on Percy's face.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Percy said, putting the bottle down and hugging Annabeth again, "I forgot you don't like this stuff."
"You can have it, Percy," Annabeth said, "I won't stop you."
"I'm sorry," Percy said, backing up, "I was just so focused on this evening, that I forgot about it. I know you haven't been feeling well, and I wanted to make this evening perfect for you. I was hoping we might be able to - you know - try what we've been trying for the past few months. Maybe we'll have some luck given that it is your birthday."
"Oh, really?" Annabeth asked.
"Yeah," Percy said, "I was talking with Grover today, and you know how he is whenever he gets into his discussions about Pan. It made me kind of - I don't know, jealous or something."
Annabeth felt tears in her eyes. She knew what Percy was thinking about. She opened her mouth to tell Percy her announcement, but Percy was faster.
"But," he said, "We don't have to do that if you don't feel very well. I mean -"
He frowned slightly.
"You look kind of pale still," Percy said, "Are you sure you're alright?"
Annabeth's announcement caught in her throat. It could wait until dinner. She kissed Percy on the cheek.
"I'm fine," she said, "Go get out go your work clothes and into something nice, Seaweed Brain. I'll set the table. Dinner will be ready when you're finished."
Percy smiled and walked out of the kitchen.
"And put the clothes in the hamper!" Annabeth said, "I don't want to see them all over the floor! I know you, Percy!"
"Yes, mom!" Percy said, loudly.
Annabeth scowled, but she grinned. Mom… she was going to be a mother. Maybe she shouldn't be too mad when Percy called her that. She wouldn't be surprised if it was a new pet name he'd use soon.
She turned and picked up the fireball and put it in the fridge. She laughed softly, as she closed the door. Depending on how Percy reacted to the announcement, he'd probably have quite a bit of fireball by the end of the night.
Annabeth set the food on the table and put it on two plates. As she was lighting the candles, Percy walked into the dining room . He was in dress pants and a button-down shirt, an outfit that Annabeth had picked out for him. He hadn't worn it since their fifth anniversary in November when they went to a fancy restaurant in New York.
"Oh, you look so handsome," Annabeth said, kissing Percy's cheek when he walked over to her.
Percy smiled and pulled back one of the chairs.
"Such a gentleman," Annabeth said, as she sat down.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Percy, said sitting down, "Mom called me today. She's planning a get-together on Sunday."
"My birthday party? Annabeth asked, grinning.
"Maybe," Percy said, blushing, "Okay, yes. Only you should be surprised on Sunday. She wanted to keep that part a secret."
"Sounds wonderful," Annabeth said, "Should be fun."
"Yeah," Percy said, "I'm sure the seven and the rest of the gang will be there. We'll get to see Pan again! And you know how Cleo's always happy to see her 'Unka' Percy and Auntie Annabeth."
"You know she can say uncle now, Percy," Annabeth said, "She's four."
"I know," Percy said, "But it's her nickname for me. It is better than uncle. I like being an uncle, though. To all our friends kids."
Annabeth smiled and closed her eyes.
"What about being a father?" Percy asked.
Percy froze, staring at Annabeth. His fork, full of lasagna, was frozen in mid-air.
"You know I'd love to be a father, Annabeth," Percy said. "I always talk about it. I'm always wondering when it will happen."
"Percy," Annabeth said, "You're going to be a father."
"I know I will, Wise Girl," Percy said, "Grover tells me that too. It'll happen. We shouldn't worry when it will happen."
"No, Percy," Annabeth said, "Listen to me. You're going to be a father."
"What?" Percy asked, "You mean -"
"I'm pregnant!" Annabeth said, grinning.
Percy's mouth opened and closed, like a fish, as he looked at Annabeth, His face grew white as a sheet. Suddenly, without warning, he fell off his chair, and hit the ground.
He fainted.