Before I get started on this chapter, I should probably warn you all that it may be a little sloppy. Not because I have a writer block or anything like that right now, but I'm sick. I had some food from Applebee's and for whatever reason, my stomach had a pretty bad reaction to it. And I've been throwing up a bit lately. I've been feeling nauseous and my head's been pounding lately too. I'm just pretty ill right now, and I don't really think clearly at all when I feel something like this. But I'll try my best to make this a good chapter for everyone.
What Can We Do With Love
Clarisse's POV
So here I am at the dining pavilion again. Being here has been pretty suffocating for the past few days, ever since Chiron sent Percy off with Grover, Annabeth, and Thalia to bring two new demigods here to camp. But now those days are finally over, for now at least because Percy's finally back. He succeeded in his quest and was able to find the two demigods he was looking for. Sure, my new friend from the Aphrodite cabin Silena was able to keep me company, but I still wanted Percy to be by my side. Nothing is the same without him. That's why I have myself sitting on his lap while we're eating. Well, everyone else was eating. Percy and I, we got ourselves some food, but we really weren't paying too much attention to it. We both pretty much were just enjoying each other's company. The only down side to it was how big I was getting. I was getting so fat from my pregnancy, and it was killing me. Not only am I losing my figure, but I'm losing my ability to continue my training as a demigod. I never am one to be all overactive about how I look like the children of Aphrodite. I don't really care about my physical appearance, but I do care about how I'm being limited in my usual daily routines.
"Gods, I'm so fat." I said.
"You're not fat Clarisse." Percy said.
"Yes I am. I mean look at me. My stomach is so big and it's gonna get bigger. I am fat Percy." I complained.
"Clarisse, you're not fat, you're pregnant. There's a huge difference between the two. Being fat and being pregnant have nothing to do with each other." Percy said tightening his arm around my waist and bringing me a little closer to him.
"What difference?" I grumbled looking at him with a stern look.
"Clarisse, being fat is being overweight. It means your weight is much more than what it really should for the age you're at. Being fat is from you not taking good care of your body and having a few pounds put on yourself by your own doing. Pregnant on the other hand, that's getting ready to deliver us the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to us. True, pregnancy does put a few pounds on you, but those extra pounds technically aren't yours, they're the baby's. You're carrying your own and our baby's weight instead of just your own. When you're fat, it's hard to get rid of that fat. As for pregnancy, when you deliver your baby, that extra weight will for the most part be gone in an instant. In other words, being pregnant doesn't have a goddamn thing to do with being fat because to be fat is not taking care of yourself and to be pregnant is to bring new life into this world." Percy explained.
As he was answering my question and as he got to the pregnant part, my hand went straight to my belly. This was really becoming a stronger habit for me and I really liked it. When he finished, I smiled and leaned in closer to him. I don't know how or why, but Percy just seems to have an answer to everything. It's as if he's always prepared for something that he knows is going to be thrown at him sooner or later. He just seems to always know what he's doing, even if it doesn't always go the way he plans. As I leaned in closer to him, he started to rub my back.
"How do you do that?" I asked and sighed loving the way he was rubbing my back, the way he was holding me, and the way he was making me feel less terrible of myself right now.
"How do I do what?" Percy asked.
"You always have an answer to everything. You always know exactly what to say. And the way you touch me really calms me down. How do you do it?" I asked through another sigh as I closed my eyes and enjoyed his warmth and touch.
"Honestly, I don't really think I have an answer to that one. I can't really say I have a way to explain that. The only way I can possibly answer that is that I simply just say whatever my heart tells me to say. I just follow my heart and ignore whatever the hades my head tries to tell me." Percy answered.
"Well, I love it." I said.
"Speaking of questions I actually don't know an answer to, I have one for you." Percy said.
"And what's that?" I asked.
"The baby, he or she started kicking pretty early. Usually, that doesn't happen until like the fifth or sixth month of being pregnant. But for you, it was like the fifth or sixth week or so. I was wondering how that is." Percy asked.
"I actually asked Chiron about that while you were gone. He said that even though demigod children take about the same amount of time to be ready to be born like a mortal baby, demigod babies grow a lot faster. Chiron also said that he believes that since this baby is a second generation demigod, this baby is going to be very powerful and might already be slowly beginning to develop a few of its godly inherited traits and strengths. Not just for who the parents are, but for who the godly grandparents are. Chiron suspects that the only reason that I can feel the baby kick already is because those may not be kicks I feel, they might be the baby's inherited powers taking shape and form inside me." I answered.
"A grandchild of Ares and Poseidon. I don't know about you, but I can see our child becoming the strongest half-blood to ever roam this camp." Percy said.
I just nodded my head in agreement. I can definitely see it. Our baby growing up as the strongest half-blood ever. Back then, I always wanted that for myself. But now, I don't think I really care anymore. I don't really know if I still want that for myself or not, but I do know that like Percy, I value my baby's life more than mine. And I know that with my baby being a second generation demigod, he or she will most likely be the strongest in camp ever, especially since he or she is going to be the first second generation demigod ever in Camp Half-Blood.
"This baby is very lucky to have you as its father." I said.
I could feel many pairs of eyes on us, but I didn't care anymore. I didn't care if they couldn't believe that this pregnancy was turning me into a different person. I just wanted to be happy. And I wanted this baby as soon as possible.
"Not as lucky as I am to have him or her and you." Percy said kissing my forehead.
I sighed and placed my head on his neck. I loved where we were at. I loved how close we have been getting to each other ever since that night. Sure, we could've done it on a better night and under better conditions, but it's given us this baby, and I was more than happy about it. So I no longer had anything to regret.
"Here, you might want to get a little food in you." Percy said as I opened my eyes to find a piece of pineapple in his fingers right in front of me.
"I'm not really hungry right now." I said.
"Well you may not be hungry. But that doesn't mean that the baby isn't hungry either. The baby's gotta get his or her nutrition." Percy said.
"What are you, a baby whisperer now?" I joked which got him to giggle.
"Only if that baby is our baby." Percy answered moving the pineapple closer to my mouth.
I sighed in defeat but did smile at him for it. At least he remembers that my favorite fruit is pineapple. So I opened my mouth and he placed the pineapple in my mouth. This was quickly becoming another new habit, one that like rubbing my belly, I didn't want to break. It was being in Percy's arms. I loved the way he rubs my back and combs his fingers through my hair when he does. Though my personal favorite part about it all was that there were many people looking at us with envy. All the boys hated Percy for having sex with me and actually getting away with it. They know it was really my fault, but I don't think they care. As for the girls, they stared at me in hate and envy. I don't know how I never saw it before, but apparently many girls have been trying to win Percy's heart but all failed miserably. Out of everyone though, Drew was the most envious one out of them all. She still hasn't taken Percy like every other guy here. And she never will. Percy's mine, and I'll be damned before I let that skank take him away from me. Speaking of Drew, I saw her glaring at me through the corner of my eye. I knew how much she hated how close Percy and I were and that him rejecting her Zeus knows how many times was an insult to her. I loved it. Seeing her like this towards us really brought excitement to me, just like right now as I picked up a piece of pineapple.
"Open up." I said to Percy and held the pineapple in front of him.
"What?" Percy giggled.
"Come on baby. Babies need to eat to." I joked smiling.
"Very funny." Percy said with a raised eyebrow but ate the pineapple anyways.
We've both been sticking with protein foods lately. Me because Percy said it would be best to make sure the baby remains healthy. Him, well, him so I don't feel left out at all, which was very sweet of him. As we continued to enjoy this wonderful and glorious moment, Chiron pounded his foot in front of the pavilion, getting ready for some announcements that he wished to announce to the camp. We all turned to face him at that.
"First off, I'd like to welcome the hunters of Artemis to camp, so let's make sure they all feel like home here. Second, with the arrival of the Hunt, we will be having our annual game of the camp vs the Hunt at capture the flag tomorrow. And third, on December 21, on the winter solstice which in two weeks from now, we'll be traveling to Olympus. So make sure you all mark your calendars, and have a good rest for the night." Chiron announced and then left.
"Capture the flag, great." I mumbled sarcastically.
"I'm assuming by the way you reacted to that, the hunters of Artemis always win?" Percy assumed.
"They've literally won so many times, that even Chiron has lost count of where their record is at right now." I said.
"Damn." Percy simply replied.
"Yeah, I know." I replied.
Before the conversation could go on, I felt something hit me on the back of my head. It wasn't anything hard enough to knock me out or anything, but it was hard enough to leave at least a bruise. Percy and I looked behind us to find that Drew had thrown an apple at me.
"Oops, sorry." Drew said and then laughed.
I was about to get up and beat the shit out of that fucking slut, but Percy tightened his hold around my waist and kept me on his lap.
"Hey, babe, calm down, there's no need for you to stoop down to her level." Percy whispered in my ear and then gently pecked it.
I closed my eyes and quietly moaned, somehow instantly forgetting my hate for Drew and my very powerful desire to murder that bitch. I don't really know what I liked more, the fact that Percy was here and knew exactly how to settle my nerves in just an instant, or the fact that he just called me babe. I have to say, I was a little surprised at that too. Usually it's Clarisse or even Clare. But babe, this was a first. It was new, but I liked it. It was definitely a lot better than that nickname Drew once gave me, which was Clare-bear.
"Babe?" I asked.
"Why not?" Percy shrugged and giggled.
I giggled to and as I said before, just completely forgot about Drew being the fateless little bitch she is and just turned all my attention to Percy. I snuggled up to him and just enjoyed his warmth. Ever since he and I got to where we are right now, I've been different. I've changed so much. I am no longer the daughter of Ares that strived to be the best in camp or the demigod that pleased herself by hurting other people *Cough* Percy. I don't think I can go back to being my old self even if I actually wanted to. I've never felt so happy or alive like this before. Percy has brought so much out of me that I never even knew existed. Not only has he helped me so much, but he taught me so much and helped me see things that I would never have ever saw on my own. I have changed so much for the best and it's all because of him. Not just because of what I feel for him but also because of how I feel for myself because of him. In all honestly, I really had no idea who I was or who I was truly trying to be beneath it all before this happened. He's changed me so much and I'm very happy for it. All the bitterness and all the moments of being shut down from the world finally came to an end thanks to Percy. I don't know how back then, I was never able to see the things that I see for myself right now, an amazing man in my life, a family being brought to us, and a bright and beautiful future with him. It's as if he was meant for me and I for him, as if we're two pieces of the same puzzle and can't be complete without the other. I know I may sound like a lovesick person and/or a daughter of Aphrodite right now, but there no denying my feelings. That's pretty much the reason why Silena always had to keep me preoccupied somehow when Percy was gone.
The very second Percy left, I was worried sick. And like I mentioned earlier, it was a living hell, not having Percy by me. Silena said it's because of love. She says that I'm in love with Percy. When she said that, I had no idea how to respond to that. I knew I liked Percy, I knew I had some powerful feelings for him, but I didn't really think I had feelings that powerful for Percy. True, I feel for him unlike anyone I've ever felt for before. But can I truly say that I love him? Can I truly be in love? I mean, we've only been together for a few months, and plus I've been such a selfish shit towards him when we first met. The only reason that came to an end was because of the little miracle growing inside of me. I was thankful of Percy for giving me this blessing and I was thankful that he was more than happy to be here with me for it. And the few months that we've been together have been without a doubt the greatest of my life. He's showed me many ways of having fun, especially on the account that he's snuck the two of us out of camp behind everyone's back and taken me to the mortal world a few times. I was surprised that Percy would actually do something as crazy as that, but I was also very surprised on how much fun you could have outside of camp. It was nice, getting away from it all. And plus every mortal we bumped into and met, even if it was most likely a onetime meet, was very nice and even excited for us about our baby. I just wish everyone in camp was much like the mortals.
"Hey, Clarisse?" Percy asked.
"Huh?" I asked.
"It's about time to head in our cabins. You kinda zoned out." Percy said.
I looked around to see that Percy was right. There weren't too many people left in the pavilion. And it was definitely getting dark out. I hadn't realized that I had zoned out. I must've gotten a little too comfortable being in Percy's arms.
"Oh, okay then." I said getting up and taking his hand in mine to lead him to our cabin.
Percy grabbed the food we didn't eat and brought it with us. As we made our way, we were approached by an unlikely person.
"Percy." Thalia said.
"Hey Thalia." Percy said.
"How are you?" Thalia asked.
"Better." Percy said wrapping his arm around me.
I moved myself closer to him as well and wrapped my arms around him too.
"That's nice. Um, listen, I wanted to apologize." Thalia said looking pretty uncomfortable as of right now.
"What for?" Percy asked confused.
"I wanted to apologize for being pretty rough on you. I know you were only trying to get back to camp so you could make sure Clarisse and your unborn baby were doing okay. I really shouldn't get on your case for wanting to be back to your family." Thalia said.
"All water under the bridge. It's alright. It'd most likely be exactly the same the other way around." Percy said.
"Yeah, I guess." Thalia said with relief in her voice.
"When you have a clear future ahead of you Thalia, you'll get it." I offered her.
"If I ever get such a thing, which I honestly don't think I will get. But thanks anyways. I'll go ahead and let you two head back to your cabin. See you at capture the flag." Thalia said.
"See you tomorrow." Percy said as he, Thalia, and I all took our leave.
As soon as Percy and I got in our cabin, we made our way straight to our bed.
"Home sweet home." Percy sighed.
"Yeah." I sighed.
Percy then handed me my food from earlier and started eating his food again. I ate a little slowly. It wasn't that I wasn't hungry, I just couldn't help but try to figure out if I was in love yet or not. By the time Percy finished his food, I still had a few pieces of oranges left. It gave me an idea. It might be from the fact that I wasn't done missing him yet, or maybe because I wanted to have a little fun with him. I didn't know, but I didn't really care. So I took a piece of orange and squeezed it on Percy's neck. He looked confused at me, but didn't do anything about it.
"Clarisse, what are you doing?" Percy asked.
"Nothing." I said with a smirk.
His skin wasn't wet from the juice, nor his clothes, but the citrus juice was still roaming his skin. When the piece of orange had no juice in it left, I ate it. That was when I went in on Percy and licked the citrus juice all up. Percy closed his eyes and moaned into this.
"Clarisse?" Percy moaned confused.
"Sh." I started by placing a finger on his lips.
"Don't talk. Just relax." I said and continued my advances on his neck.
I pushed him against the headboard of the bed and continued my advances. Percy just wrapped his arms around my waist and brought me in closer. If only we had our baby born already, I'd probably take him right now. Can women have sex when they're pregnant, or not? I don't really know. I guess I'll just have to stick with what I know I can do for now.
Sorry for the wait. I'm still feeling rough. I guess I'm sicker than what I expected. Hope you liked the chapter though. And I also hope I get better real soon, otherwise I'm gonna be in hell for a while.
