Annabeth's P.O.V

I didn't manage to stake awake for even the first sentence. When I woke up Percy was still sat next to me with the book laid over his chest. It was really sweet that he wanted to do this for his little sister. I picked up the book and put it on the bed side table before moving Percy into a better sleeping position. I looked at the clock and it was 5:30am, I guess because I went to sleep so early. I got up and dressed and popped my head into Estelle's room, she was also still asleep. I walked downstairs and found Nightshade still sleeping in her bed too. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been awake this early, probably the last time I'd been on a quest or when I was studying at college. With it being early August the sun was already up, I made some fresh coffee and thought about what I would get Percy for his birthday this year.

Percy found me leaning against the frame of the back door watching Nightshade in the garden. I was twiddling my engagement ring which I found I often did when I was thinking about him.

"Morning Wise Girl" he said kissing my cheek

"Morning Seaweed Brain, is Estelle still sleeping?" I ask tearing my eyes from the garden to face him. He was pouring himself a coffee and getting things ready for breakfast.

"For now, but it's still early, mom said she's rarely up before 9am" he said and I smile shaking my head in almost disbelief. "What?" He asked me.

"She's just so much like you" I said and a smile appeared on his face.

"I'm glad you think so" he said, I started setting the table for breakfast, while he started making pancakes, blue ones of course.

"How did your reading go?" I asked him and he winced, so not well probably.

"Okay, I guess, I managed half a chapter maybe before I fell asleep" he sighed "I really tried to get further, I just" he sighed again and I knew what he meant, he wasn't the only one who struggled with English books. When your brain is hardwired into Ancient Greek it was difficult. I knew what I could get him for his birthday.

"I know, but it's really sweet that you want to try" I said to him and I heard Estelle through the monitor. "I'll get her, don't worry" I told him was in the middle of his first batch of blue pancakes.

"Abeth" Estelle called when I picked her up.

"Hey Elle, how did you sleep? Shall we get you dressed for breakfast?" She giggled and nodded at me. I grabbed her overnight bag and changed her into a lovely light blue summer dress with daisies embroidered around the bottom of the skirt.

"Pwcy?" She asked me as we headed downstairs.

"He's making you blue pancakes" I told her, and I could see the smile in her eyes before it appeared on her face.

"Yay" she giggled and I couldn't help but laugh with her as we entered the kitchen.

Percy's P.O.V

I couldn't help but smile as Annabeth carried Estelle into the kitchen laughing with her, she had such a beautiful laugh I thought to myself. I kept coming back to the same thought; Annabeth was going to be a great mom and I felt my heart start doing a gymnastics routine while all the thoughts of our future together swam through my brain.

"Pwcy" Estelle called from her high chair.

"Good morning my little star, are you ready for blue pancakes?" I asked and she nodded, clapping her hands, smiling as I cut up her pancakes for her.

I passed a plate to Annabeth and put my plate down before I set Estelle's in front of her with a fork. Mom and Paul had been trying to encourage her to use a fork instead of her hands, so I promised I'd try and help with that. It hadn't gone so well last night with her dinner but, I guess it takes a little more than just giving her the fork, which is what I did last night.

Just like last night she ignored the fork and went for the pancakes with her hand. I reached out and took her hand before she could grab her pancake.

"Little star, you know mom and dad want you to use your fork. Shall we try that this morning?" I'd been calling Paul dad when I spoke to Estelle, so I didn't confuse her. Estelle was not happy about the fork suggestion. Her pouting face told me as such, I decided to do what I used to when she was really small and bribe her with water tricks. What? If it wasn't broken don't fix it right?

"If you use the fork little star we can go to the beach and play water shapes" I said to her and this seemed to lift her spirits, she took the fork in her little hand and it didn't take long for me to figure out why she didn't like it.

Estelle really liked being able to do things for herself and if she knew she couldn't do something herself she got really frustrated. She was struggling to get the pancake on the fork and just ended up bashing it flat against the plate. Okay, I thought, this is fixable.

"Little star, why don't we try it this way?" I showed her with my fork and pancakes she looked at her hand and turned it so the prongs of the fork were facing down and managed to spike a square of pancake and put it in her mouth. I could see by the proud sparkle in her eye that she's really pleased with herself.

"Great job little star" I told her and I realised Annabeth was watching me.

"Do I have something on my face?" I asked her.

"No Seaweed Brain" she said and rolled her eyes at me but she's still smiling.

"What?" I asked and I noticed that she's not looking at me like I have something on my face but like I've impressed her.

"I'll tell you later" she said grabbing my free hand and lacing her fingers through it.

"Okay, are joining me and Estelle for water shapes at the beach?" I asked her, I know how busy she's been lately with taking on the designing of Clarisse's house and planning the wedding. I did help with the wedding stuff, mostly because we wanted the day to be what we both wanted and I actually quite liked doing it.

"Of course, can't have you building sand castles without me" she said and Estelle started clapping again when she heard sand castles, though personally I thought she just really liked Annabeth. Which I thought was great too. "Tell you what" she said to me getting up from the table "why don't I go and pack a beach bag and you clear away breakfast and introduce Estelle to Nightshade?"

"Okay, deal" I said getting up and then realising I haven't seen Nightshade this morning "where is she?" I asked as Annabeth reaches the door.

"In the garden, she likes running around after breakfast and then sitting on the porch under the swing for a nap." I nodded and placed the plates in the sink before I picked up my little sister.

"Do you want to meet Annabeth's puppy Nightshade?" I asked her and she nodded eagerly at me.

I opened the back door and Nightshade came running over to us.

"Doggy" Estelle said happily, I sat down with Estelle on my lap.

"Okay, let her come to you Estelle" Nightshade climbed into my lap sniffing Estelle, wagging her tail she jumped up and licks Estelle's face. Estelle giggled happily and hugged Nightshade.

"Doggy" she squealed and I decided to try and teach her to say her name.

"Nightshade" I said to her and I know it's a hard name for her to pronounce.

"Nigh-sha?" She said back to me and I smiled as Nightshade licked her face again.

"That's very close" I told her. "Hey Nightshade are you going to come to the beach with us?" I asked and she barked at me which I took as a yes. I stood and said "C'mon then girl."

We headed inside Nightshade following close to my feet ready for our morning at the beach.

Thalia's P.O.V

I got to camp last night and stayed in the hunter's cabin. Lady Artemis has been letting me visit camp as often as I like as long as our hunt is complete. We were trying to make the relationship between the hunters and the campers more amicable and it was working for the most part. Apart from the Apollo campers' maybe but to be fair to Will he did at least try which is more than can be said for the rest of them.

I met Piper outside the Aphrodite cabin and we set off for the beach, we decided to have a chill out morning, I can't remember the last time I had one, before I headed to Percy & Annabeth's.

"Do they know you're here yet?" Piper asked me.

"No yet, I thought I'd head over later and surprise them" I answered as we set out a blanket on the sand and settled on it. "How are things with Malcolm? I asked her.

"Well we've not really had a chance to talk since yesterday; I was at Annabeth's all day. But, we're going to meet up this afternoon" she said and blushed. I'd never seen her blush as much as I had in the past couple of days.

"If it's weird, we don't have to talk about it" I said, I knew her and Jason weren't together when Jason died but I knew she loved him and I knew he loved her. Annabeth had always been like a sister to me, and I guess somewhere along the way Piper had started to feel like one too, even if she was a daughter of Aphrodite.

"It's not weird, I guess it's just new" she said, I nodded and I can see she's nervous about it, but I don't really know how to help her.

"For a daughter of the love Goddess you seem quite nervous about it" I noted.

"When it comes to other couples I'm very confident about love, but when it comes to mine" she sighed "did Jason tell you why we broke up?" She asked me and I nodded "I was very confident before we got together that we would and I didn't know if that was just because of Hera or my mom. I feel like this time that my feels are just that mine." She said and I nodded again but I guess I don't really understand having turned my back on the love of men.

"I'm sure it'll work out" I said and I managed to make her laugh, which I guess is something.

"Sorry, I'm making you uncomfortable; sometimes I forget your oath with how much you like gossip" She smiled at me, it's true I like to know what's been happening with the people I know.

I laughed "yeah well, even I can appreciate some gossip but my home is with the hunt" I told her.

"I know but you have a home here too, I know it's different but you do, you know that right?" She asked me and I did, I knew Percy and Annabeth were my family, Annabeth always had been. Percy, well we got off to a rocky start, mostly I guess because we were trying to see who was more powerful and who the great prophecy (at the time) was about. But, I thought also some of it was maybe trying to prove who was a better friend to Annabeth. It all seems so silly now.

"Yeah I do" I said smiling at her.

We continued to talk about camp and how training was going. I teased that they still wouldn't beat us at capture the flag, we've not lost one yet, we're not about to start now.

"We'll see" she told me.

I looked around beach and noticed a little further down were a family and a dog playing in the sand, building sand castles together. I don't think I'd ever get used to demigod families at camp but I thought it was a nice thing to have come out of the trade off Queen Hera made before the giant war. I realised as I'm watching them that what I assumed were two parents, their child and their dog, was actually Annabeth, Percy, Estelle and Nightshade. They looked so much like a family laughing and playing together in the sand. I watched as Estelle dragged Percy to the water and pointed at it waiting for him to do something. I continued to watch as he pulled a ball of water out of the tide and willed it into a star, a heart, a rectangle, a square - water shapes I thought - was there no limit to his powers?!

"What are you looking at?" Piper asked me as I'd been quiet for a while now and she followed my line of sight. "Oh they're a sweet little family" and I could tell she's only given them a cursory glance and hasn't realised who they are.

"Look closer" I told her, I was still watching as Annabeth called something out to Estelle who nodded and then Percy who changed the shape once again.

"Why? Who-?" She paused and I could tell she'd figured it out. "Wow, they look like such a complete family, I didn't even realise it was them at first"

"I'm so proud of her" I said and I am, she had come so far from the seven year old I met all those years ago. I also knew Percy had a lot to do with that.

"She'll make a great mom" Piper said.

"Shall we go over and say hello" I asked, I wasn't that I didn't agree with her statement, but the thought of my little sister becoming a mother, I wasn't really sure how I felt about that. It was still odd to me that she was older than me, when we met I was five years older than her and now I would be fifteen forever. I didn't regret my choice at all, but it hurt to think of a life that Annabeth and Percy were no longer in. I'd got so used to having them in my life. I shook that thought from my head, pull yourself together Thalia, this is why Lady Artemis is letting you have so much time with them.

"Yeah, why not" Piper said getting up and I did the same. Piper shook the sand out of our blanket and we headed over.

Percy had moved on to water animals by the time we approached and I could tell he was tiring but Estelle loved the shapes and animals so much. I could see he was having a hard time saying he needed a break.

Annabeth's P.O.V

Nightshade ran in and out of the waves while Percy manipulated water into whatever animal Estelle managed to say. It was really beautiful to watch and I could tell it was using a lot of his energy; fortunately I'd packed a couple of ambrosia squares knowing he was going to do this. I sat on the blanket, with a smile on my face thinking much like I had at breakfast that Percy was going to be an amazing dad. I was just about to suggest a break when Thalia and Piper sat down next to me.

"Hey" they said together and I hugged them both, we'd seen/ spoken to each other yesterday but it was really nice to have them both here. Nightshade ran out of the waves as soon as she caught Thalia's scent and ran straight to her, and she'd thought this dog would forget her, yeah right I thought, smiling.

"Hello" Thalia said scooping her up and Nightshade made a big deal of licking her face in greeting. "I missed you too, I'm glad you remember me" she said playfully scratching behind her ears.

"Nigh-sha!" Estelle yelled and Nightshade dutifully ran back to her.

"I can't believe I've lost her to the call of Nigh-sha" Thalia said shaking her head and I start laughing.

"Thals, Nightshade loves you, Estelle can't say her name properly that's as close as she can get. I think its sweet that's she's trying." I smiled before adding "She's really challenging Percy with her requests for water Animals."

"I think she's moved onto people" Piper says and I notice that she's right, as an image of Sally appeared where previously there had been an otter and a bear amongst so many other animals.

"Ok little star, last one before we build a sand castle" Percy said and he sounded exhausted.

"Abeth!" She cried and I laughed, my heart warmed at her request.

"I take it that's you" Thalia said grinning "this should be good, hope he gets it right" The tone in her voice was challenging like if she got it wrong she'd punch him. I smiled, something's never change I thought to myself, and I could see that Piper must have had a similar thought.

"You can see how tired he is, don't hold it against him, I'm sure it'll look fine" I said all of his water creatures and people had been so accurate; I had to admit even if it was only to myself that I was slightly curious how his water rendition of me turned out.

"You know it'll be good" Piper said "what?" She said as Thalia and I looked at her "c'mon! If she'd have asked for anyone else I'd have said maybe but - well see for yourself" she said and she looked smugly out at the ocean.

The face I saw looked like mine but with almost a godly aura to it. Is that really how he saw me?

"That's not me, not really" I said, chalking it up to tiredness on his part.

"Yeah it is" Thalia said next to me "Kelp head's just disgustingly romantic" I couldn't help but laugh as the water fell back into the ocean. My heart did little relay races in my chest.

Percy walked back with Estelle and sat in the sand.

"Hey Piper, hey Thalia, you remember my sister Estelle right?" He breathed out exhausted.

"Pwcy" Estelle pulled on his t-shirt, pointing to the sand. He got up still exhausted and proceeded to start digging sand into a bucket for her to build a sandcastle. I loved how much effort he was putting in to make her happy.

Nightshade decided that sand play was not as fun as water play and came bouncing back to Thalia who scooped her up instantly and started cooing at her.

I grabbed one of the ambrosia squares and handed it to Percy while Estelle is distracted banging the top of her bucket to make a sand castle.

"Thanks Wise Girl" he said, smiling at me.

I looked back at the blanket that Piper, Thalia and Nightshade are on watching them laugh and play with Nightshade. I smiled to myself knowing I have the best family in the world.

"Always Seaweed Brain" I turned back to him and gave him a kiss "why don't you let me sub in?" I asked him and he didn't argue with me, smart man, but instead got up and headed over to sit next to Thalia on the blanket.

"Estelle, what kind of castle are we making?" I asked as we started filling up another bucket.

"Big" she told me and I laughed with her and we started to build her a big castle.

Percy's P.O.V

I sat next to my cousin watching my future wife build probably the best sand castle I've ever seen with my little sister.

"Way to sap up cus" Thalia said to me.

"What do you mean?" I asked her, Piper laughed at me, and I must have looked confused because I didn't understand what I'd done.

"Gods Percy, you made Annabeth look like a Goddess, in your water sculpture" Piper informed me, I could feel heat touching my cheeks but I didn't care, that was how Annabeth was to me. I remembered my dad calling my mom a Goddess among women and I thought that was pretty accurate to how I felt about Annabeth.

"But, she is, I mean I know she's not an immortal Goddess but to me she is" I told them, Thalia made a gagging motion and Piper smiled shaking her head. "What?" I asked

"It's just really nice to see you happy" Piper replied and I still felt like I was missing something, but I left it alone.

"Kelp head, that's the most disgustingly romantic thing I've ever seen you do and I've seen many of them" Thalia said to me still stroking Nightshade's head.

"I'm sorry, that how I express my love makes you feel sick" I said sarcastically and I poked my tongue out at her to which she rolled her eyes and replied in kind.

"Are you too ever going to grow up?" Piper asked us.

"Never!" We declared together and Piper shook her head at us but she was smiling.

~~ 3 hours later ~~

I picked up Estelle who was ready for a nap as she had skipped her morning one being on the beach. Annabeth, Thalia and Piper were walking behind us as we headed back home.

"Pwcy sing" Estelle said groggily in my ear and I suddenly felt very self conscious but she's my sister and she needed me.

"Okay little star, just for you" I whispered and I started to sing Be True To Your Heart by 98° and Stevie Wonder.

I could hear the girls behind me whispering and I tried to shut out the whispers as I continued to sing for Estelle. It didn't take long to get home and by the time we did Estelle was fast asleep on my shoulder. I headed straight upstairs, put her in the travel cot and tucked her in.

"Sweet dreams my little star, dream big, dream bright, love you" I whispered to her before stepping back from the cot and picking up the monitor.

"She loves you too Seaweed Brain" I heard her whisper from behind me.

"Thanks Wise Girl" I replied closing the door behind me. "Are Piper and Thalia staying for dinner?" I asked as we headed back down stairs.

"Thalia is, but Piper's meeting Malcolm in a few hours so she's already gone back to camp." She told me.

"A few hours, what do those Aphrodite girls need to do that takes a few hours before a date?" I asked her as we head out to the garden where Thalia is playing fetch with Nightshade.

"Seaweed Brain, girls like to put effort in for their dates" she rolled her eyes at me. I did know that, but I also knew that Annabeth didn't need to.

"I know that Wise Girl, but tell me you've not put that much effort in before one of our dates? Because you don't need to" I said and I meant it, this girl was perfect just the way she was no makeup needed.

"Thank you" she said and I can see her smiling and it makes my heart do a little relay race in my chest. For the rest of my life I thought, if I could see that smile, I would never have a dull moment.

"Do you think she knows that Nightshade isn't supposed to be doing that much exercise at this age?" I asked Annabeth as we sat on the porch swing.

"I don't think so, but don't spoil her fun; Nightshade can sleep all day tomorrow to make up for it." I didn't argue with her it was nice to see Thalia enjoying herself outside of hunting down monsters.

"Maybe we should get her one" I suggested though I wasn't sure how that would work with being a part of the hunt.

"Maybe" Annabeth responded resting her head on my shoulder. "I mean she'd love you forever" she teased and I played along and scrunched my nose.

"Well maybe not then, wouldn't want her cursed to love a bear or anything"

She chuckled next to me "didn't know you cared so much, Seaweed Brain."

"Can't let my Wise Girl lose her Pinecone face, can I?" I teased but it just made her laugh at me more. Gods I loved her laugh.

Thalia's P.O.V

We walked back to Percy & Annabeth's and suddenly Percy started singing. I looked at Annabeth and then nodded towards Percy like 'what in Hades' with a raised eyebrow and she just smiled and shook her head like this was normal behaviour. Normal behaviour i thought, right because Percy always sings.

"You don't seem surprised, that he's just burst into song" I whispered to her, not asking a question but implying it.

"He only sings for Estelle" she whispered back. Now I already had a lot of respect for my cousin but he somehow always manages to find a way to make me respect him more.

"Typical Kelp Head" I whispered and shook my head, Annabeth just chuckled at me.

"Hey, I need to cut out, I'm meeting Mal in a bit" Piper said

"Mal?" I whispered and raised an eyebrow Piper blushed but said no more about it. Annabeth and I hugged her goodbye before carrying on towards her house.

"She's got two hours before she meets up with him" Annabeth told me as she stroked Nightshade who was curled up in her arms watching Percy and Estelle.

"Two hours?! What in Hades is she going to do to get ready?!" I asked and she just laughed at me. Seriously though two hours, what did she feel she needed to do that would take that long?

"She's just nervous, I think today might actually be a date" she informed me and I still don't get it. Why did that make a difference? I'm so glad I didn't have to worry about any of that.

"But, two hours?! Seriously ?! She knows she doesn't need to change how she looks for a guy right?" I asked her.

"I know she does" Annabeth said "but, remember she's a daughter of Aphrodite and they don't mess around when it comes to love" she paused and then added "Gods I hope Malcolm's prepared" and she smiled, I laughed, I didn't think Malcolm stood a chance at being prepared especially if he was as oblivious as Annabeth and Percy had been.

"Gods he's going to pass out if she goes full make over" I said as she opened the door.

"I don't think she will, I just hope he learns from me and Percy" I chuckled, she had a point.

She decided to head upstairs to check on Percy so I told her I'd take Nightshade.

I took her outside onto the lawn and started to play fetch with her. It wasn't long before I noticed Percy and Annabeth had sat on the porch swing and I decided to keep throwing the ball for Nightshade who didn't complain about all the attention I was giving her and I found it rather relaxing and knew they would mind if I carried on.

~~Author's Note~~

I really hope you enjoy this chapter, please let me know what you think!

ILovebookshi - That is really flattering of you to say thank you so much! I'm really glad you're enjoying this.