Rick owns everything. I own nothing. The song used is Big Black Car by Gregory Alan Isakov, it's beautiful, I'd go check it out. Reviews are always lovely!

Athena and Apollo had reached Apollo's palace in silence, pointedly ignoring the stares of nymphs and minor gods as they made their way through them. Annabeth and Will had been quiet the entire way, both too tired to make much of a fuss. Despite their exhaustion, both children curiously regarded the inside of the golden mansion, heads turning back as they were carried out of a room.

Eventually they ended up in the master bedroom. Fairly large with extravagant furnishings, a balcony overlooking Hera's gardens, and a bed that filled up the centre of the room, complete with silk sheets and mounds of pillows. Will and Annabeth were laid on the bed while the two gods tried to figure out what they were going to do with them.

"Why don't we just put them into their own beds?" Apollo suggested.

Athena shook her head in denial, "They're beds are too big, they'd fall out."

"Then what are we supposed to do?"

"I don't know!"

"Do you two need help?" A voice appeared from behind them causing both gods to jump.

"Aunt Hestia." Athena said. "What are you doing here?"

Hestia smiled and held up a bag of what looked like baby necessities. "Neither of you have had to take care of children before, I figured you would need help."

Athena and Apollo smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure." Hestia replied warmly handing Athena the bag. "I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow."

"You aren't staying?" Apollo asked disappointed.

"I think it's best if you figured things out on your own."

"Why?" Athena wondered.

"For…appreciation purposes." Hestia said before vanishing in a warm glow.

"So uh-what do we do now?" Apollo asked.

Athena looked between her children and the bag she held, "I suppose we get them dressed for bed."

They got to work thinking it couldn't possibly be that hard to get two three year olds dressed for bed. Of course they didn't realize that three year olds tended to kick and scream when they were overtired, which happened to be exactly what Annabeth was doing.

"No, No, No!" Annabeth chanted while kicking at her father's arms.

"Annabeth, c'mon put them on for Daddy?"

Annabeth mustered the best glare a three year old could give, and continued to scream. "No."

Apollo was just about ready to pull his hair out. "Why?"

"Don't want to."

Athena meanwhile had gotten both Will and herself ready for bed and was holding her son, smirking as Apollo continued to fight with Annabeth.

"Please?" Apollo pleaded.

"Not tired." Annabeth replied, yawning and stretching her arms over her head. Apollo took advantage of this and pulled her pyjama shirt over her head.

Annabeth only kicked her legs harder when she noticed. "No fair!"

"It was fair." Apollo commented, pleased with himself.

Annabeth stopped kicking and crawled up to Athena. "Did Daddy cheat?"

"Hmmm I think he did." Athena told her laughing as Apollo glared at her.

Annabeth turned around, "Told you." Her father was nowhere in sight.

Suddenly two arms scooped up Annabeth, managing to put on her pant bottoms in the process while the little girl screamed waking her brother up. When she realised it was only her father she calmed down immediately. "Alright sunshine bed." Apollo said setting her down while Athena attempted to calm Will.

"Did you have to do that?" She asked glaring at him.

Apollo just shrugged and went to get ready for bed himself. Annabeth climbed up into his arms as he got in, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

Athena was still whispering in Will's ear to get him to stop crying. Apollo laid Annabeth down next to him and took his son from her. "What's wrong Willy?" He asked tickling the little boy's stomach.

"Ann-Annie scared me." The boy sobbed clutching his father's shirt.

"Annabeth didn't mean to scare you.

"I-I know."

"Then why are you still crying?" This only made him sob harder.

"I d-don-don't know." Will cried.

Apollo ran his hands through Will's hair thinking. "Do you want daddy to sing you a song?" He asked softly. The little boy nodded vigorously against his chest, the nods becoming softer and subtle as Apollo began to sing him a slow song.

You were a phonograph I was a kid,

I sat with an ear close just listening.

I was there when the rain tapped her way down your face,

You were a miracle I was just holding your place, mhmmm.

Well time has a way of throwing it all in your face,

The past she is haunted the future is laced.

Heartbreak you know drives a big black car,

I was there in the backseat just minding my own. Mhmmm.

Through the glass the corn crows come like rain,

They won't stay, they won't stay,

For too long now,

This could be all that we know, Of love and all.

Well you were a dancer and I was a rag,

The song in my head it was all that I had.

Hope is a letter I never could send,

Well love was a country we couldn't defend. Mhmmm

And through the carnival, we watch them go,

Round and Round.

All we knew of home was just a sunset,

And some clowns, Ohhhhh

Well you were a magazine I was a plain Jane. Just,

Walking the sidewalks all covered in rain.

Love to just get into one of you stories,

With me and all of my plain Jane glory.

Just me and all of my plain Jane glory.

Soon enough Will was passed out along with his sister. Apollo passed him back to Athena who smiled and simply cuddled her son close to her. Apollo's arms went protectively around Annabeth, and his lips brushed against the top of her head. "Apollo?"

He glanced at Athena, who like usual had a thoughtful expression on her face. "Hmm?" He mumbled nearly asleep.

"Can you promise me something?"

"What?"

"Promise me our love won't be a country we can't defend."

"Of course."

"Thank you." She whispered, though he never heard it, already lost in Morpheus' realm before the words had left her lips.