A/N: Once again, THIS STORY ISN'T MINE! I can't take credit for writing this masterpiece, I just copied and pasted it from tumblr so it can reach a larger audience! The writer of this story is tumblr user storiesoftheseven . Here's the link to the master post of Falling For the Devil : post/116271170930/fftd-master-post
"Take off all of your skin, I'm brave when you are free, shake off all of your sins and give them to me, close up, let me back in, I wanna be yours, wanna be your hero and my heart beats."
For the very first time since Percy took over his father's business he was looking for a way out. In addition to going over the plan with Reyna, he was coming up with a way to get out of this way of life. When he got Annabeth away from Kronos he wanted nothing more than to run away with her.
Percy wanted to get her as far away from New York as possible. If what he thought was correct which he usually wasn't wrong when it came to her, he desperately needed to get her out of New York as soon as she was back in his arms again.
He just had to make it through negotiations with Kronos, that would be the hardest part. Convincing his enemy that Annabeth didn't mean a damn thing to him. He didn't know if he could pull it off- especially if she was tied to a chair or hurt.
That would give him away in a heart beat.
"Are you ready, Percy? It's almost time?" Reyna asked walking into his office.
Percy looked up from his office chair and rubbed his eyes, had it only been twenty four hours since the video from Kronos arrived?
"Yeah." He sat up and grabbed his jacket, he couldn't remember the last time a three piece suit felt so foreign to him. So used to wearing one every day, now it just felt ridiculous.
His whole life felt ridiculous, honestly.
When they were sitting in the back of the Mercedes Percy eyed Reyna, not for the first time since all of this had happened and knew she'd be perfect to hand everything over to. Percy had enough money so that he never had to work again- he could retire at the ripe old age of twenty six.
The more he thought about leaving this world behind the more the idea became appealing. He could take Annabeth somewhere far away from here and they could be a normal couple for once.
They could maybe even… raise a family. He winced at that last thought, he wasn't ready for that. He was still too messed up, too unwilling to admit that he loved her to her face. How could he be a good father.
But.. what if his hunch was correct. What if she was curled in on herself during the video because she was pregnant? The thought had various emotions dancing in his heart… mostly fear but he felt something protective rise up in him as well. He didn't know if he wanted her to get an abortion. He didn't think he'd be able to demand she get one, especially now.
He knew how much she wanted a family of her own. How could he deny her that after everything he had put her through?
"You've got the plan down?" Reyna asked as they drove over the Williamsburg bridge into New York City.
Percy looked at her and frowned, "Yeah… act like I don't give a shit about my wife and convince Kronos that his plan failed… easy."
Reyna sighed, "I know this is hard for you, Percy… but you need to pull it together. Annabeth needs you at your best."
Percy pinched the bridge of his nose, "I know she does… it's just difficult."
Reyna placed a hand on his shoulder, "Just focus on her, on getting her back… that will make this easier."
Percy looked at Reyna, "Nothing will make this easier."
Reyna squeezed his shoulder, "You've changed," He shrugged, he had changed and it was all because of Annabeth, "It's not a bad thing… I knew being with Annabeth was softening something inside of you but I never expected something this drastic."
Percy looked out the window, "I fell in love with her."
Reyna's hand slipped off his shoulder, "I know… I think I knew before you even did."
Percy turned back to Reyna, "It's not something I wanted to admit… I haven't even admitted it to her, yet."
"But she knows, Percy… I'm sure she knows, Annabeth is a smart girl."
He chuckled, "She's too smart… calling me out on my bullshit since I blackmailed her into marrying me."
Reyna smiled at him for just a moment, "We're going to get her back, Percy."
Percy turned to her with a grim look, "I know… but if something happens to me… get her out of here… do not let them take her. I have everything you'll need to get her away from here in my safe, you remember the code?"
Reyna nodded, a light sheen of tears coating her eyes before she blinked and they were gone again.
Percy felt the car turn and looked up, they were now in the warehouse district. He smiled a cruel smile, he found it funny that this would happen in the same place that he had brought Luke so long ago.
Of course Kronos would think this would be a great place for the downfall of Percy's empire…. but the thing was Percy didn't care about his Empire, Kronos could have the whole thing if he only got Annabeth back.
But Percy wasn't an idiot… he knew there was something a bit deeper to this than Kronos just wanting the business Percy had built. He had a hunch it had something to do with his Father and it made Percy hate his Dad all the more.
The driver stopped in front of an all too familiar warehouse and Percy stepped out of the car without even a glance at Reyna. The incoming Fall weather had a breeze blowing over the river and Percy shivered. It was ominous in a way, something telling of what was to come. Reyna stepped up beside him, her face hard and steely. He'd hate to be on the receiving end of that look.
Kronos had two of his men standing out the door and Percy and Reyna walked forward cautiously. As the door swung open Percy unbuttoned his suit jacket, allowing the gun sitting on his hip to show. Reyna's own pistol hooked to her thigh under her skirt, along with a pair of knives.
Kronos was standing with Luke and Charles. Percy had sent Charles back to Kronos last night… under the guise that he had more information about Percy's emotional state since Annabeth had been taken.
Percy tried not searching for Annabeth but he couldn't help the way his eyes darted around him. He hoped it just looked like he was getting an idea of how many men Kronos had brought with him.
The men Percy did trust were hidden in different areas throughout the warehouse. Kronos didn't know the place like Percy did. He had used this particular warehouse so many times that Kronos was the idiot for picking this place.
It made Percy smile, the kind of smile that hadn't graced his lips in a long time. The kind of smile that had Kronos glaring and Luke confused. It was a smile that meant he had won and they just didn't know it yet.
"Percy," Kronos sneered at him.
He almost laughed, "Kronos, I would say it's nice to see you again… but it isn't."
Kronos looked at him, "Do you have what I want?"
Percy eyed him, "I'm a little unclear as to what you want from me?"
"Hasn't it been clear this entire time? I want your business, all of it… you hand over control to me and you get your wife back."
This was it.
Percy narrowed his eyes, "And what makes you think I give a shit about her… I built my
business without any help… it's mine and I'll be damned if I give it over to you."
Kronos looked away from him and nodded once at someone. Percy kept his eyes trained on Kronos, one little flinch on his part would give him away. He couldn't have his biggest play, his nonchalance attitude toward her ruined. But he could hear someone struggling and someone kicking and putting up a good fight toward his right.
He knew it was her.
Percy knew the moment she stepped foot into the warehouse, he was that aware of her.
"Let me go, you asshole," She all but screeched to the body guard.
A fiery glint of pride rose up inside of him, she was strong… so much stronger than she use to be and he knew it was because of their love. It was because he had given her something he had given to nobody else. He was determined to tell her that when all of this was over with.
The bodyguard all but threw her into Luke's arms.
His anger almost made him do something rash but instead he just feigned a look of boredom.
"If you don't care for her then why did you come all the way here to get her?" Kronos asked when Annabeth had stopped struggling.
Percy chuckled, "She is my wife for all intents and purposes… I couldn't have her body floating in the East River… Do you have any idea who her mother is and what company she's the CEO of? Athena would make sure I burned had her daughter been caught between our war."
Kronos smiled and pulled a gun from his hip, "Well then, we can just end this here then. I would love nothing more than to watch you burn."
Percy laughed, "You kill her and you'll have hell to pay from Athena Olympia herself."
Kronos looked at Percy, "That's your play? Act like you don't care and just want her back because you don't want to deal with the fallout?"
Percy looked at Kronos for a second, he could give himself away here or he could plow forward with the plan. He glanced at Reyna and she nodded at him, encouraging him.
"The play is that your 'spy' Charles has been feeding you exactly what I told him to feed you. I let him take Annabeth so that you would think that you had won… I let all of this happen. You think you're the one in control here Kronos but you're not."
It was the second time since this had started that Kronos looked unsure.
Kronos turned to Charles, "Is this true?"
Charles turned to Kronos, Percy watched the way his fist clenched by his side. He gave one last look at Percy before he nodded, stoic and sure. Percy didn't even flinch as Kronos took the gun by his side and aimed it at Charles.
"You're wife and unborn child should be joining you shortly."
Kronos fired the first but not last shot of the morning.
Percy knew this was going to happen and so had Charles but Percy had promised to get his wife to safety and he had last night. Before Charles had even gone back to Kronos Percy had gotten Silena away from the prison they were holding her in. Charles had known exactly where they were hiding her but didn't have the manpower to get her out himself.
If he had known where Kronos was hiding Annabeth he would have gotten her out last night as well. But as luck would have it Charles didn't have that information.
Percy looked down at Charles and frowned, letting a bit of sympathy show for the body guard he use to trust with his life. Charles had been by his side many years and it was sad to see him go this way.
Kronos aimed the gun at Percy, he tsked in a truly bored tone, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"And why not?" Kronos asked, Percy could hear Annabeth crying softly in Luke's arms. And it did nothing to help the anger rising, it took everything he had to stop himself from snatching her away from Luke.
But he was so close to breaking down Kronos that he wasn't going to stop now.
"Because you picked the wrong place to stage your little show. I know this place like the back of my hand… and right now you're surrounded. So, unless you want several holes dotting that perfect face of yours I wouldn't point that gun in my direction."
Kronos looked around, the men he had with him at attention now. Their guns pointed up at the ceiling and looking everywhere for the sign that Percy was right.
"You're bluffing." Kronos said as he looked back at Percy.
Percy smiled, he had him exactly where he wanted him, "No, I'm not." He lifted his hand and several gun shots were heard. A couple of Kronos' guys went down but some of Percy's did too.
Percy knew in that moment he had just struck the match and all hell was about to break loose.
0-0-0-0-0
Silence rang in the air as everyone stopped moving, wondering who would make the next move. Annabeth looked at Percy, trying to read him. Trying to figure out where his head was, how he was really planning on getting her out of here.
But he wouldn't make eye contact with her, he was so focused on Kronos. Annabeth felt sick, her stomach churning with anxiety- she was so ready for this to just be over with.
She had to admit that Percy was playing the right angle, pretending to not care. It was his best play against Kronos- making him think Percy was in control all along. The only variable was Kronos' anger. He could and would do something rash if he felt threatened enough.
Annabeth had a feeling that was happening this very second. Kronos kept looking around the room as Percy kept a hand near his hip, probably so that he could grab his pistol at a moment's notice.
It was tense.
Luke's fingers were digging into her arm as her eyes darted around the room. Trying to figure out a way to get away from Luke and Kronos, if only she could reach Reyna.
Finally Kronos laughed, "That little show was nice but you still don't seem to realize that I hold the upper hand," Kronos snatched her away from Luke, she bit her lip to keep from crying out as he held her in front of him, "I have Annabeth and I don't care what Athena will do if I kill her."
Kronos pressed the gun into her side, the barrel of the pistol grinding into her rib cage, "So, what will it be Percy? Annabeth or your empire? Take your pick."
Annabeth had never felt so terrified in her entire life, it was in that moment that Percy finally looked at her. His eyes pained and bloodshot, she figured he hadn't even slept since she was taken.
He opened his mouth but just as he was about to say something another voice rang through the warehouse. A voice she hadn't been expecting to take up for her.
"This wasn't apart of the plan, Kronos."
Kronos laughed in her ear, his hot breath next to her ear making her want to gag, "I don't share all of the plans with you, kid."
Annabeth watched Percy reach for his gun while Kronos was distracted. She wanted to close her eyes tight but she knew she needed to be alert- just incase her chance for escape opened up.
Kronos' grip tightened on her arm, "Speaking of plans," He lifted the gun from her side and pointed it at Luke, who looked confused and then angry.
"I was planning on getting rid of you after all of this was over with but since you're no longer of service to me I'll just do it now."
Annabeth flinched as a shot was fired throughout the large warehouse. Kronos' grip loosened on her arm as the gun went off, now was her chance. She took off in dead sprint towards Reyna. As soon as she ran everything erupted in yelling and gunshots.
Reyna caught her right before she plowed right into her, some of Percy's men covered them. Annabeth was trying to breathe as Reyna grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Are you okay?" She asked quickly.
Annabeth nodded unable to speak, "Stay behind me."
Reyna shoved Annabeth behind her as she grabbed her own gun under her skirt. Annabeth looked around and saw Percy hiding behind one of the large steel columns. She wanted to go to him, to pull him from this horrible place so they could escape together.
For one split second she finally let herself feel how much she had missed him, how much she had needed him over the past few days. Then another shot rang through the warehouse and she was brought back to reality.
The reality that they might not make it out of here alive. Annabeth shivered as she thought she might not get to live to meet the little baby growing inside of her. She didn't need a pregnancy test to tell her she was pregnant, she knew without a shadow of doubt.
The men standing in front of Reyna started walking backwards, towards the door. Annabeth looked around wildly, they weren't leaving without Percy.
"What are we doing?" Annabeth hissed at Reyna. Reyna looked around and then turned around to face Annabeth. Reyna pushed her until her back was against the metal door, the two guards standing by the door- dead.
"We're getting you out of here, alive."
Annabeth shook her head, "Not without Percy."
Reyna grit her teeth and before Annabeth knew what was happening she was being pushed out of the door and into the sunlight. She could still hear the gun shots ringing through the warehouse- windows breaking as Reyna shut the door and pulled her from the warehouse.
"Percy can handle himself." Reyna pushed her behind a car and pulled her down so that they were shielded from stray bullets.
Annabeth looked at Reyna, "I'm not leaving without him."
Reyna sighed, "When I tell you that Percy can handle himself, I mean it. Going back in there would only distract him and he means to end this with Kronos today."
Annabeth sighed and looked at the door through the window of the car, "Okay."
The door to the warehouse burst open and two guys holding their guns looked around. Annabeth could hear Kronos shouting orders at them, "They couldn't have gotten far."
She tensed, he was talking about her and Reyna.
Reyna looked at Annabeth, "Stay here, do not move." Then she was off, crouching down low walking around the car with her discarded heels left beside Annabeth.
Annabeth could hear people inside the abandoned warehouse and she strained to hear who was talking. She heard Percy's unmistakable voice and then Kronos' sneer. She looked around the area she was at, the two guys and Reyna disappeared around the side of the building.
Her legs moved involuntarily around the front of the car and towards the door, she heard more talking.
"Your father screwed me out of my own empire, my business burned to the ground because of him."
Percy laughed, "My father is dead… and I don't care what he did."
"I want you to feel the way I felt when I lost everything!" Kronos insisted.
"So, this whole thing has been because my Father screwed you over?"
Annabeth pushed herself up against the metal wall, stretching to hear. She heard another gun shot go off and her heart picked up it's pace. She wanted to peek inside the building but… what if she got herself caught in the crossfire again. She'd never be able to forgive herself if something happened because she was being careless.
She heard something scrape across the floor of the building as she closed her eyes and took another deep breath. So many different emotions were warring within her. She wanted to protect herself and her baby but not at the cost of losing Percy.
The night they were cornered in the alley so many weeks ago came flitting through her mind. The night she had to pick up the gun and shoot the guy that was on top of Percy. If she hadn't of had the guts to pick up the gun he… wouldn't be here.
Annabeth made a split second decision and crouched down low and reentered the warehouse as quiet as possible. Her palms sweating as she stayed close to the shadows. As soon as Percy came into view she placed her hand over her mouth. He was laying of the floor, Kronos a few feet from him with the most horrible smile she'd ever seen.
Her legs moved quickly and before she even realized what was happening she was in front of Percy as Kronos' gun went off. She gasped as she hit the floor, the gun shot shooting straight through her side. Blood gathering on her shirt as she placed a hand on her side.
Kronos didn't even have time to react as Percy launched himself at him. The gun flying off to the side. Annabeth heard the gun hit the floor and watched as Percy and Kronos struggled on the ground for a moment before she slid herself forward.
Annabeth crawled toward the gun as blood seeped onto the floor from her side. She didn't even have time to register the pain as she grabbed the gun and pushed herself up onto wobbly legs. She pointed the gun with shaky hands and right when Kronos rolled over onto Percy again she pulled the trigger.
As soon as she pulled the trigger everything came crashing down on her. Her side throbbed painfully, her legs gave out and she dropped the gun as she hit the concrete. She cried out she placed her hands in front of her to somehow soften the blow.
But Percy was there as she hit the concrete he caught her with a string of expletives pouring from his mouth.
"You're so stupid, Annabeth… why would you do that!"
Annabeth winced as he pressed his hand into her side and pulled out his phone and then put it to his ear, "I need an ambulance." Annabeth zoned out the rest of his words as she closed her eyes.
The weight of what she had done hitting her full force. She pressed her hands against her stomach, "No." The words dropping from her mouth in a whisper.
Percy dropped his phone and leveled a glare at her, "Why did you jump in front of his gun? Do you know how stupid that was?"
Annabeth closed her eyes as tears ran gathered into her eyes, "Percy," She whispered.
He shook his head and placed a kiss on her forehead, "You're going to be okay," He promised fiercely. She gasped as pain shot through her side and black spots danced in her vision.
Annabeth reached up to touch Percy's face, "I love you," She whispered, "You are worth it."
Percy shook his head, tears springing from his eyes, "You're going to be okay, Annabeth."
She tried to smile as her vision swam, he became blurry, "I love you, Percy," She told him again.
"I need you, Annabeth. I can't live without you," He paused and kissed her cheeks and lips, she briefly heard an ambulance siren in the background, "I love you so much." He whispered.
Annabeth didn't know if she imagined those words or if it was just the blood loss but as the black finally took over her eyesight she thought she had smile on her face. She knew he loved her but hearing it gave her confidence, confidence in the fact that he had truly, one hundred percent changed…. and it also made everything they had been through a little bit worth it.
0-0-0-0-0
The funny thing about almost dying is that everything finally comes into perspective for you. Everything falls into line and you finally see what's most important in your life. You see all of the things you did wrong, you see all the things you did right.
Perspective falls into place.
Annabeth laid in the hospital bed, her body bandaged- her heart aching. She didn't exactly remember the last twenty four hours, she just knew that Kronos was dead. Percy shot him after the bullet had missed him, after she had taken the bullet that was meant to kill him. Luke was gone. Shot after his task of getting Annabeth alone accomplished.
Her heart ached.
She had dragged Luke into this, it was all her fault. She felt like crying, if she could move- or even wake up. Annabeth was so lost in her own body, she could feel the hand holding hers. She could feel the pressure of lips on her forehead.
The breath of someone whispering into her ear. Annabeth couldn't understand what was being said. They just kept mumbling before she promptly passed out again.
Hours or days later she heard more whispers, only this time she understood what they were saying.
"Are you sure?"
She recognized that whisper, it was Percy- her husband. Her volatile and emotionally wounded husband.
"Yes, she's six weeks at most."
She heard a long sigh and then fingers lacing with her own.
"Okay."
Annabeth struggled to listen as the whispers died down once again. She wanted so bad to wake up and see Percy, to squeeze Percy's hand back- to reassure him that she was okay.
"When will she wake up?"
This, she wanted to know the answer to as well. When would this terrible slumber end, when would she wake up.
"We've stopped the medical induced coma, giving her body time to heal. She should wake up within the next several hours. Her vitals are good and her test results are all positive, she'll wake up when she's ready." The whispers starting fading again as Percy started talking again.
It felt like seconds later when she became coherent again. Only this time, she saw white behind her eyelids and not black. Fingers squeezed her hand and her eyes fluttered open.
She heard a loud sigh as she tried looked around from the bed she had been chained to.
"Annabeth."
She closed her eyes one more time and then opened them to clear up the blurriness of her vision.
"Percy." She whispered when he face came into view.
He smiled at her, "It's good to see you awake."
She tried to get up but he gently pushed her back down, "You need to rest."
Annabeth sighed and laid back down, exhausted just from trying to do that. She vaguely registered an ache in her side. She touched the spot through her hospital gown and felt the bandaged wound.
Percy pulled her hand away, she focused back onto him, "What happened?" She asked settling back into the bed. Percy sat on the edge of her bed and pressed the up button, her bed moved up until she was eye level with him. She smiled at him and ran her hand through her hair.
She grimaced, "I need a shower."
Percy laughed, "You were shot and almost died but all you're worried about is that you need a shower… I'll never understand you."
Annabeth shrugged and then winced again, "Why does everything hurt?"
Percy's smile softened, "Because you've been through something traumatic, take it easy Annabeth."
Annabeth sighed and felt her eyelids begin to get heavy again, "I don't want to go back to sleep."
Percy frowned, "Annabeth, you need to get some rest. A lot has happened and you still don't know everything… just rest as much as possible, please…. you have nothing to worry about I'll be here the entire time."
She eyed him, "You look like you could use a shower too, go home. I'll be fine."
He shook his head as her eyelids grew heavy by the moment, "I'm okay, Reyna brought me a change of clothes. I can freshen up in the bathroom."
Annabeth nodded and closed her eyes, she pulled on his hand and he scooted closer to her. Percy kissed her hand before settling it back on her stomach- their fingers intertwined together. She felt the stirring of a memory, when she asleep- she thought that this meant something but was too tired to read into it.
Before she even knew what was happening she was asleep, again.
Her dreams were of black haired children who played on the back lawn of the mansion. She felt sad because though she could see the children, she couldn't reach them. She kept watching them, reaching for them because having children was well out of her reach- as long as she was in love with Percy.
When she awoke again she was much more alert, her eyes brighter and the sun shining through the windows.
Percy was asleep in the chair beside her bed. Annabeth heard the doorknob to the hospital
room open and she turned to watch a nurse walk in.
"Oh, good. You're up." The nurse said with a smile. Annabeth nodded and tried to sit up, the nurse hurried to her side to help her.
"Take it easy, don't push yourself- you're still healing from the gunshot… combine that with your pregnancy, your body is working extra hard."
Annabeth zoned out for a moment before it hit her, "I'm still pregnant?"
The nurse's eyes widened, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought you knew, your husband said you had woke up already. We assumed he told you."
Annabeth looked at the sleeping Percy, he knew she was pregnant and hadn't demanded she got an abortion right away? She was so confused.
"How far along am I?" She whispered, looking back at the nurse.
The nurse smiled, "According to your blood work, no more than six weeks. The doctors were sure you would miscarry during surgery but… somehow you didn't."
Annabeth's eyes filled with tears as a quiet whimper escaped her mouth. She really was pregnant with Percy's child. She was finally getting everything she had ever wanted in a marriage- love, hope for the future, a family.
It overwhelmed her for a moment.
But all of it was tainted by the uncertainty of Percy's reaction and everything that had happened. This news was suppose to be happy, she was suppose to be happy about this.
The nurse grabbed the blood pressure cuff, "I need to check your vitals then I'll leave you alone." Annabeth nodded as the nurse worked and then finally left.
As soon as she left Annabeth placed a hand on her lower abdomen and smiled. If Percy didn't want it then Annabeth would fight for her dream of being a mother and hope that he would come around. She reached over and ran her hand through her husband's hair. The chair was close
enough to the bed to allow her hand to reach over. He stirred but didn't wake.
"Percy." She said softly.
His eyes opened and she smiled, "Good morning."
He frowned at her, "Why are you up?"
Annabeth shrugged, "Not tired anymore." He sat up and leaned onto the side of her bed. He ran a hand through his hair before he kissed her forehead and laced their fingers together. She looked down, she didn't think she would ever get use to that.
"I love you." Annabeth whispered as she turned onto her side, careful not to tangle her IV. Percy smiled at her and sat on the edge of the bed.
He hesitated, "I love you too."
Annabeth smiled, she wasn't expecting him to say it. Of course she remembered his rushed confession of love as he held her after she had taken the bullet for him.
"You didn't have to say it, I know you love me."
Percy shook his head, "I needed to say it… not while I thought you were dying. You needed to hear under a less stressful circumstance."
Annabeth wanted to kiss him and hug him so tight her lungs would burst. She settled for squeezing his hand a bit tighter.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
Annabeth leaned back against the pillows, she didn't even notice the way her hand drifted to her stomach, "Overwhelmed."
"Annabeth, look at me." Percy whispered.
She tensed and looked back at him, "Why did you jump in front of me when you knew you were pregnant? Do you realize you could have lost the baby!" Annabeth sat stunned for a moment, here he was scolding her for saving his life but endanger her own and by extension their child's.
Percy closed his eyes and ran his free hand through his hair, "I'm sorry," He whispered after a moment, "But you shouldn't have jumped in front of me. You come first! Do you not realize that?"
She smiled at him and pulled on his arm, "I can't say that I'm sorry because I saved you… I need you just as much as you need me… and I took a risk… I couldn't let Kronos' win like that."
Percy looked back at her, pain written all over his face, "But… I could have lost you."
Annabeth grabbed his hand and pulled, he looked at her warily but she just did it again. He leaned down and wrapped his arms gently around her back, careful with her bandaged side.
"The doctor said you're not out of the clear yet…. You could still miscarry with the medicine they're giving you… but as of right now…. you're still pregnant." He whispered into her neck.
"How do you feel about this?" She asked, softly as he pulled away from her.
He smiled, just the corner of his mouth lifting, "Terrified," Annabeth frowned, " But I knew the moment I realized you were pregnant what I wanted to do."
Annabeth watched him warily, "And what is that?"
"I want you to keep the baby." Percy said slowly, each work deliberate.
Her eyes went wide, "Are you serious?"
He nodded and grabbed her hands, "Yeah… this is something you deserve… after everything I have put you through… you deserve to have the one thing you've always wanted."
Annabeth shook her head, "No, you have to want this too Percy!"
He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, "I do… I mean it scares me and the majority of me is doing this for you but…. I," He sighed and his shoulders sagged. When he looked back up his eyes were sad.
"When I saw the video I knew… I knew you were pregnant… the way you were curled in on yourself slightly… the way your arms were wrapped around your stomach…. and I wasn't disgusted. I was terrified but I wanted to protect you… and it…. I mean the baby."
Annabeth smiled, her hands squeezing his in support, "I can't imagine us not having him… or her now." He finished.
Her heart jumped in her chest and eyes blurred with tears. Her husband had done a complete change in the few months they had been married. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She thought she'd have to fight for this pregnancy, like she'd had to fight for everything else.
"Are you sure, Percy?" She whispered. He nodded, one sharp nod that told her he was more than sure of his decision.
She smiled and pulled him down to hug him again. For the first time in her entire life she was finally happy and content with where she was. Annabeth Chase-Jackson was finally getting everything she had ever wanted, a family.