Ψ Percy's P.O.V Ψ

Annabeth, Will and I were in New Rome once more for the 20 week scan. I was nervous about this one; it was the one they did to make sure there were no abnormalities or risks to the babies. If they found something they felt indicated there was a risk there were other tests they could perform to confirm but they posed a greater risk and those terrified me.

Annabeth and I had both agreed that if the child was at risk for something like Down's syndrome, we wouldn't risk the test to confirm it. We wouldn't love the children any differently if they had it than if they didn't, so it didn't seem worth risking the pregnancy. Still I was nervous about the scan and I knew Annabeth was too.

Annabeth had grown so much over the last seven weeks, I was impressed she managed to get up and move around at all, she was constantly tired; we had to change her work schedule to half days because of how much energy the babies were taking from her for themselves.

I personally thought she looked beautiful, but she still had a few hormone episodes each week where she felt fat and unattractive. I did my best to reassure her that she wasn't fat, and she was more than attractive.

My mom and I had spoken about hormones when we had told her we were expecting. She told me that when she was pregnant with Estelle, she'd had episodes when she felt insecure and Paul had consoled her and that I should be prepared to do the same for Annabeth.

Since that conversation I'd been looking out for the signs my mother had told me to look for, poor Annabeth seemed to have it worse than mom did; maybe it was because we were having twins? I don't really know I wish I did then perhaps I could be of more help to her.

I prayed to Lady Artemis everyday for the safety of our twins and of Annabeth. I prayed for everything to be alright and that the scan would come back clear today.

"Mrs. Jackson" Dr. Clive called, this was it. Just like before Annabeth got on to the table and lifted her shirt and rolled the top of her trousers down to allow Dr. Clive to do his job.

The monitor was positioned in front of us so we could see our babies; I held Annabeth's hand Will stood behind Dr. Clive watching for anything he needed to know.

Anticipation flooded my veins, and then it started to dissipate when our babies appeared on the screen in front of us. They were so big now, in comparison to last time. I could see hair, and their noses, I could see their hands and their feet. My heart swelled with love for our unborn children, they were perfect.

Ψ

The scan went perfectly, the babies were growing at a normal rate, there were no concerns that one was doing better than the other or anything like that, everything was normal. I'd never been so happy to hear the word normal in my entire life!

As we made our way back to Long Island I sent a pray of thanks to Lady Artemis. The drive was long but Annabeth got to sleep. Will had ridden a Pegasus to New Rome and so he took her home. He would get back way before us but that was okay.

I hummed along to the radio as I made my way down the highway normally I would stop to see mom, Paul and Estelle, but with how much energy it took Annabeth to take stairs even at home I decided against it today. I would visit later in the week after work one night instead, mom had had two kids it wasn't like she didn't understand what Annabeth was going through.

I thought back to when I'd revealed the nursery to Annabeth. I'd taken her miniature model and copied it exactly with the help of Malcolm whose drawing skills were second to none – I'd just added the paint.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

"Percy come on, I promise to keep my eyes closed until you open the door" Annabeth laughed as I continued to cover her eyes and guide her to the nursery to show her it in its completion.

"We're almost there" I said smiling, I didn't know why I was making such a big deal about getting her to the nursery she knew which room we'd picked to be the nursery and she knew that's where I was taking her but still I'd started it now, so I would finish it.

I stopped her outside the door, I opened it gently. "Okay" I said "Open" and I dropped my hand from her face and allowed her to see her idea in its creation.

"Percy it's perfect" she said as she looked around the original plan had been to paint the nursery together, but Annabeth had been so tired I decided to paint it for her, for them, for us.

"I love the quote you chose, Audrey Hepburn right?" She asked.

"Kind of, I adapted it a little, the original quote is 'Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm possible.'"

"I think I prefer yours 'Believe in the impossible, the word itself says I'm possible.' What made you choose that one? I know we were struggling to come up with a quote." She asked me.

"I thought about all the impossible things we've managed to overcome, it seemed ... appropriate. Although they are both going to be a force to be reckoned with if they have your brains-"

"And your powers" She cut me off, "We're really going to have our hands full y'know?"

"I know" I replied wrapping my arms around her resting my hands on her stomach. "But, it'll be worth it."

By the time I drew myself out of my own thoughts we'd arrived home. Annabeth was still fast asleep. I left her in the car while I unpacked the car, there wasn't a load of stuff but we had packed things in case we needed to stay in New Rome for any reason.

Once everything was inside I gently woke Annabeth and helped her into the house. We'd moved to sleeping downstairs in the theatre room on one of the beds in there so she didn't have to wear herself out every time she took the stairs. I tucked her into bed, and left her to sleep with the promise of waking her in an hour for food.

Ψ

Δ Thalia's P.O.V Δ

Lady Artemis had led us back to camp, for reasons I was unaware of. We'd set up in cabin eight as always when she asked me to accompany her and of course I said yes, as was my duty.

"My Lady, where are we going?" I asked.

"Somewhere you're very familiar with" She replied and that was all we said as we made our way down the path through the woods towards the Greek village. I instinctively knew we were heading to Percy and Annabeth's. Maze ran around the woods but she never strayed too far before returning to us. I wasn't worried; she knew where we were and where we were heading. I hadn't needed to train her to recognise her surroundings she just did.

When we got to Percy and Annabeth's Lady Artemis knocked on the door. It struck me that the way we had travelled here and the way she knocked on the door seemed very well mortal. I didn't understand, she could have just flashed here from camp or well anywhere she was a Goddess, that's how it worked. So why had we come this way, why had she taken the time to do so?

To say Percy was surprised when he answered the door was an understatement.

"Lady Artemis, Thalia, welcome" he said immediately stepping aside and half bowing as he let us into their home. I had to stifle a laugh at the awkwardness of the whole thing.

"Percy" Artemis greeted as we entered.

"Can I erm – get you something to drink?" He offered.

"No don't worry, I won't be long" Lady Artemis replied, which confused me greatly, as we had travelled here together. "Is Annabeth around?" She asked.

"She's sleeping, we've not long been back from New Rome, I can wake her though-"

"No No, don't let her rest, baring one child takes its toll but two, let her sleep, I'll catch her another time perhaps."

"Okay" Percy said and he looked at me as if I had an answer for him, I shrugged in response because I was pretty sure I had less of an idea than he did at this point.

"You're wondering why I'm here I bet" Lady Artemis said.

"Does it have something to do with my prayers? Are they disruptive, I can stop?" He asked

"In a way" Artemis replied "Allow me to explain." She said

"Please" Percy said gesturing for us to sit but we all remained standing.

"Athena said you would pray to me, but I didn't really believe her until I heard your prayers. You're different to other heroes, Percy, in many ways but especially in your prayers."

"My Lady?" I asked because I was beyond confused as to what was going on.

"Indulge me, my lieutenant" She said to me and I nodded.

"Many expecting mothers pray to me, they pray for the safety of their child and sometimes the fate of their child is beyond my reach, but other times they are not. I help all expecting mothers where I can through childbirth." She said.

"I know" Percy said, "It's why I pray to you every morning"

"I know, but did you notice who doesn't pray to me? Even if they know about our world"

"The fathers" I said before I could stop myself.

"Correct, my lieutenant", why do you think that is?" She asked me.

"I don't know" I admitted.

"Percy? Do you know" Artemis asked, almost curiously.

"Because they pray for the other things they worry about, whether they'll be a good enough dad, whether they can support their family, they pray for those things instead. So they don't pray to you."

"Exactly, but you do" Artemis said, and I realised, Percy had surprised her yet again.

"I do worry about the other things, how I'll support our family, if I'll be a good enough dad but what I desire more than the answer to those worries is for Annabeth and the babies to be strong, healthy and safe, through the pregnancy and the childbirth." Percy said and I smiled, he was so loyal to Annabeth, he loved her so much, I was proud to call him my cousin and sort of brother-in-law.

"You are selfless Percy in your prayers." Artemis said.

"I don't know about selfless" He said "I prayed to Hera leading up to our wedding, I prayed to Aphrodite when we decided to start trying to start a family. Both of those we're selfish, they were prayers for things I wanted, as are my prayers to you." He said scratching his neck like he does when he's nervous. "Sorry" he added.

"What I mean when I say your selfless Percy is that; you pray to me for Annabeth, just as you did to Hera for your marriage and as you did to Aphrodite for your fertility." She said and I scrunched my nose I didn't want to hear about Percy or Annabeth's fertility.

"Each prayer was to help you give Annabeth another piece of happiness. To be married to you makes her happy, having a family with you makes her happy, and that's all you've ever wanted for her isn't it, to make her happy."

"Yes, more than anything in the world" Percy responded and Artemis smiled approvingly.

Suddenly I understood the reason for her being here; she was trying to put Percy's worries to rest.

"Lady Artemis, since you're here, may I ask you something?" Percy asked tentatively.

"Yes, you may" she replied.

"How much pain will she be in, you know when she gives birth?" He asked.

"Sit down Percy, and I will show you" She said.

I watched as Artemis touched Percy's arm and immediately he doubled over in pain, groaning.

Δ

Ψ Percy's P.O.V Ψ

I sat as Artemis instructed not really knowing what to expect and as soon as she touched my arm I felt sharp pain in my lower abdomen. It was unlike anything I had every experienced and then it stopped.

The pain started again a minute or so later.

"What am I feeling?" I asked.

"Contractions, similar to a woman who is in labour, it'll swap to birthing shortly, don't worry it's only a feeling nothing is actually happening to you." Lady Artemis assured me; Thalia looked a little amused as she watched the scene in front of her.

I nodded and as told, a burning sensation and pain like I've never felt before ran through the lower part of my body. I closed my eyes and bit down hard on my lower lip to stop myself calling out and waking up Annabeth.

I felt a hand touch my arm again and suddenly the pain was gone, I opened my eyes and I could see Thalia laughing at me.

"Gods, who knew all it took to defeat the hero of Olympus was a bit of child birth." Thalia said teasingly.

"Shut up Pinecone Face" I grumbled I looked up at Artemis "All women experience this when they give birth?" I asked.

"If they give birth naturally, yes, if they need or opt for a c-section, no" She told me.

"Gods, I think I owe my mom an apology" Thalia burst out laughing so hard I thought she was going to fall over.

"What?" I asked, she just shook her head at me and smiled once she calmed down. "Seriously, what?" I asked her.

"Only you, Kelp Head would want to apologise for something out of your control." Thalia told me.

"But I caused her pain" I said.

"Every child causes this pain during childbirth Percy, we don't know we're doing it, and our mom's forgive us for it." Thalia said Artemis watched our interaction with interest.

"What happens afterwards, for Annabeth, how long will it take her to recover?" I asked the Goddess.

"Well fortunately for you and Annabeth, not that long, as she's able to digest Ambrosia and Nectar." She told me and I nodded, I had forgotten about that.

"An Also she'll have Will." I said.

"Aw yes my nephew, he is very gifted in healing just like my brother, she'll be in good hand with him."

"She will" I agreed, "Are you sure I can't get you anything, to drink or to eat?" I asked.

"Not for me, Percy, thank you" Artemis said "I should be going now, Thalia's going to stay for a couple of days and then rejoin us" She told me and then turned to Thalia "I'll let you know where to go when it's time."

Thalia nodded "Thank you my Lady."

Ψ

Thalia and I spent the next hour or so catching up on everything but the pregnancy. I knew Annabeth would want to be awake when we caught up about that so I deliberately didn't mention it.

"Y'know I've never seen Lady Artemis, the way she was today" She said to me.

"I haven't either" I confessed.

"She respects you, y'know?"

"I know, I respect her too, why do you think she was the way she was today?" I asked her.

"If I had to guess?" She asked, I nodded, "If I had to guess, I'd say it had something to do with your unborn children."

"What about them?" I asked.

"Have you ever wondered why Artemis has the hunt Percy?" Thalia asked me as we sat out in the April sun on the back porch swing. I had never thought about it, but I did now. "Besides y'know being the Goddess of it" Thalia added.

I was about to answer but Annabeth beat me too it. "It fills a void her maiden vows leave" she said, as she leaned against the back door frame smiling at us. She looked so beautiful standing there; she had a sort of glow about her, not like you'd get from a blessing from a God or Goddess but like a happy glow. It's so hard to describe, unless you've seen it I guess you won't completely understand, but just know in that moment she looked more beautiful than a red morning sunrise.

I stood up to let her take my place next to Thalia on the swing. I kissed her when she reached me and touch her stomach which held our children.

"Gods! Annie! Look at you!" Thalia exclaimed as she pulled back from a greeting hug.

"I know, I'm huge" Annabeth laughed.

"That wasn't what I was going to say" Thalia said, "You're glowing Annie, you look radiant, it suits you" Thalia smiled as did Annabeth.

"Just for that I'll let it slide that you called me Annie, twice in the last few minutes" Annabeth teased and Thalia laughed as did my wife, it was truly nice to see.

"Okay" Thalia conceded, "And as usual, you got my question right."

"I get it now" I said, "At least I think I do, Annabeth it's like Paul's sister the one who can't have children." Annabeth nodded.

"Wait I thought Paul's sister had children?" Thalia asked.

"Not of her own and by that I mean biologically, because she calls all the children she adopts her own." Percy said. "I remember talking to Paul before Estelle was born about it" I trailed off as I got lost in the memory of me talking to Paul.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

"Are you alright Paul?" I asked him, he sat at the kitchen table with English papers to grade but he was staring out into space.

"Percy" He said, "Yes, sorry, I got lost in thought."

"Can I help?" I asked.

"I don't know," he said.

"Try me, like you always say a problem shared is a problem halved." I replied.

"It's my sister, Emily, I'm worried how she'll take the news of the pregnancy" He told me and I frowned I was sure Emily had kids.

"But she, has kids" I said

"She adopts them, Percy; Emily can't have her own children, so she gives a loving home to those who do not have one."

"You wouldn't know they weren't hers and I don't believe I'm that oblivious."

"No you're not, you're right she treats them as if they are he own. But, before she made the decision to do that, she felt a very strong void in her life because she'd never be able to have her own. I don't want to upset her, when I tell her she'll be an Aunt." He confessed.

"I think she'll be happy for you Paul," I said.

"Percy" Annabeth's voice brought me back to the present.

"Sorry" I apologised, "I was miles away"

"We noticed" Thalia said rolling her eyes and Annabeth laughed at her, well actually it was probably more at me. Wanting to capture the moment but having left my camera inside I used my Iris Phone to take the phone before the moment ended.

"Where'd you go Kelp Head?" Thalia asked me.

"A memory" I said smiling "I understand what's happening with Lady Artemis now and I think I might have a solution."

"I'm all ears Kelp Head please share." Thalia said she was trying for teasing but I know if she could help Lady Artemis in any way she would.

"It's like Annabeth said about the hunt filling the void of children for her, but we've shown her another void one she can't fulfil because of your oaths just as much as her own."

"My oath?" She asked and I looked at Annabeth and I knew she was thinking the same as me, I could see this twinkle in her eye, that she gets when a plan comes together.

"to turn your back on a man's love" I said "and if you break it, you leave the hunt, so either way she can never fulfil the void."

"Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said affectionately, "I love you, but you're rambling."

"Sorry" I smiled sheepishly "I love you too. My point is the new void is legacies or grandchildren."

"But Apollo has lots of legacies on the Roman side." Thalia countered.

"That's true, but there aren't children of Minerva on the roman side." Annabeth said "There are no legacies of the maiden Goddesses on the Roman side."

"Like there is soon to be on the Greek side." I added.

Light bulbs went on in Thalia's mind I could see it. "And your solution Kelp Head?" She asked.

"Annabeth, how would you feel about asking Artemis and Hestia to be honorary grandmothers'?" I asked "Neither have demigod children, so neither will have a legacy of their own..." I broke off my train of thought holding my wife's gaze trying to gage where she was with my proposal.

"I think it's one of your wisest ideas, Percy. Why don't we go to camp see if we can catch Lady Artemis and Lady Hestia before the hunt leaves?"

"Great, I'll get the car ready." I said leaving Annabeth with Thalia I went to get the car ready.

Ψ

Δ Annabeth's P.O.V Δ

When we made it to camp wee just managed to intercept the hunters and Lady Artemis before they left.

We congregated around the brazier in the middle of camp that Lady Hestia was fortunately tending too at the time we were there.

"We were hoping to have a word with the two of you" I said leaning into Percy, he steadied me as I over stepped. Thalia was with the other hunters as she knew what was going on but I noticed she was just close enough to still see what was going on.

"Of course" Lady Hestia answered me, and Lady Artemis also agreed and I realised I had no idea where to start this conversation and Percy instinctively knew that.

"We were wandering if you would do us a very large favour, and agree to be honorary grandmothers to our twins." Percy said.

"Oh we couldn't possibly; we wouldn't want to steal Athena's thunder." Lady Hestia said.

"Should we have asked your mom?" Percy asked me.

"Perhaps, Lady Hestia, is my mother on Olympus? Would you ask her to join us?" I asked.

Lady Hestia travelled to the hearth in Olympus and when she returned my mother stood next to Lady Artemis.

"Mom" I greeted.

"Lady Athena" Percy said from behind me.

"Annabeth, Percy, Hestia said you wanted to ask me something?" my mom said and so Percy launched into his explanation of what we wanted to ask and why.

"One of your better ideas, Percy, I'll give you that" my mom said and I didn't need to turn around to know that my husband was smiling, my mom didn't often give out right compliments to her children, and certainly never to the people we dated, especially if they were a son of a certain rival. This was really a big deal, all around not just for Percy, I know he was thrilled.

"But won't that mean they have six grandmothers?" Artemis asked.

"It would," I said, "but, that would only make them more fortunate"

"Are you sure Athena?" Hestia asked.

"Of course, Hestia" my mom replied.

Hestia and Artemis seemed to have a silent conversation, which took a few moments. Percy's fingers nervous tapped on my stomach as we waited for an answer.

"Okay" they said together "We'd be honoured, thank you." I smiled, Percy's hand settled so it was resting on my stomach.

"We'll let you both get back to your days, we know you're busy, but thank you." Percy said and I smiled and nodded in agreement.

Lady Artemis returned to her hunters and Lady Hestia disappeared from the hearth, to tend to another. My mother remained.

"That was very kind, what you just did" My mom said. "Artemis has been acting really strange for the past few weeks, I'm beginning to think this was why." She said more to herself than to us.

"We didn't just offer it because they'd never have their own legacies; we both agree they'd make great grandparents." I said because we'd discussed it in the car on the way over to camp.

My mom smiled at us, "how are you feeling Annabeth?"

"I'm okay mom, just always tired." I replied.

"And, the twins?" she asked.

"Are great, they're doing really well, the doctor was really pleased with their development on the scan this morning." I said.

"That's great news-"

"Oh! Lady Athena, place your hand here quickly" Percy said and my mom looked a little taken a back at his demand but she did place her hand on my stomach lightly. A couple of seconds passed and one of the twins kicked her hand, the smile that spread across her face, was like nothing I'd ever seen before.

My mom retracted her hand. "Thank you Percy, I'll leave you both in peace now." We averted our eyes and then she was gone.

"Hey lovebirds! Think we can grab some food soon?" Thalia shouted from the porch of cabin 10, she'd obviously been visiting Piper.

"Yes Pinecone Face c'mon! You too, if you want Piper!" Percy called back.

"Count me in" Piper called back.

"Hey wife of mine, what do you want to eat?" Percy asked me as we made our way back to the car.

"I'm having a bit of a hankering for comfort food" I replied.

"Okay, comfort food it is" he said and pressed a kiss to me temple before opening the door to the car for me. A smiled graced my face, I knew how lucky I was, every day I found out just a little bit more how true that was.

Percy dropped us off at the house before disappearing off to the shops.

"Where's Kelp Head going?" Thalia asked me.

"To get ingredients" I replied as we sat in the theatre room, the dogs sitting quietly in the corner for about the first time ever.

"For what?" Piper asks, "You always have food in"

"I've had some odd requests lately for dinner, and you know Percy, he always knows what we have in the house, so we obviously don't have something he needs."

"And what was tonight's request for dinner?" Thalia asks.

"Comfort food" I replied and Thalia got up and went into the kitchen and returned momentarily.

"Okay so I have no idea what you're missing because there's a box of pancake mix in the cupboard" she said.

"Did you just raid the kitchen to try and see what was missing?" Piper asked.

"Yep" Thalia said popping the P with absolutely no shame about raiding the kitchen.

"Actually Percy hasn't used pancake mix in years, it's a back up box" I said.

"A back up box?" Piper asks.

"Yeah you know, like if you want pancakes but you've not got eggs or you want hot chocolate but you have no chocolate to melt, the powder is a back up."

"Annabeth, you know drinking powder is normally peoples first choice right?" Piper asked me.

"Well yeah I know that." I said rolling my eyes, "But I also have Percy who likes to make things from scratch, so?" I shrugged as if that said it all, because it kind of did.

"Right hold on then" Thalia said disappearing into the kitchen again.

Piper and I waited...

"Yeah...nope... you've got eggs and chocolate so it's not your comfort foods he's missing." She said.

"Thals why does it matter what ingredients we're missing?" I asked.

"I just want to know, Piper what's your comfort food?" Thalia asked.

"You'll laugh at me" she responded.

"No we won't" I said

"Chilli con carne fries, with melted cheese over the top but not like the plastic cheese, like proper cheddar cheese, and candy floss. What's yours?"

"Okay there's no way Percy has that on his list" Thalia said "And, cheese burgers, but with the plastic cheese."

"Don't under estimate him; you know he has his ways." I said.

"There's only two ways he'd know," Thalia said, "if you told him, or if he asked Malcolm."

"Actually Malcolm doesn't know" Piper said.

"And I haven't told him, but I still wouldn't bet against him." I said remembering when we went to a carnival on a double date with Jason and Piper back before we retired and moved in, I felt like he'd at least get the candy floss but I wouldn't put it past him to get the chilli fries too.

"Annabeth, I'm home" Percy called from the kitchen and Thalia jumped up to see what he'd gone to get. I rolled my eyes at Piper and she laughed.

"C'mon let's go see if he managed to get it right." She said and helped me up off the sofa. Thalia was already talking Percy's ear off about what he'd bought from the store.

"Thalia, what's with the third degree? I just needed some ingredients that we'd run out off, you're welcome to go through the bag if it'll make you feel better." He said, he noticed me and Piper and furrowed his brow in a silent question.

Thalia mean while was unpacking the bag pulling out ingredients left, right and centre.

"Red kidney beans, coco powder, corn syrup, plastic cheese, eggs and what are these extra long chop sticks?" Piper was chuckling away and I was struggling not to join her.

"And if they are?" Percy asked.

"What do you need them for?" She asked.

"Well Pinecone Face, take a seat and I'll show you." Percy said and winked at me like I was in on this big joke, truly I had no idea.

Δ

Turns out Percy did know all our favourite comfort foods, he even knew Piper liked the really cheap own brand coco powder.

"Okay, tell me how you knew Piper's comfort foods" I whispered as we watched a film.

"I phoned her dad" he whispered and I chuckled, of course he did, such a Percy thing to do.

"Obviously" I said and rolled my eyes at him, stealing some of his pancakes in the process. I'd already finished mine.

"I can make some more" he said.

"No don't worry" I smiled.

"I never thought I'd see the day" Thalia said as Percy passed me the rest of his pancakes, knowing I'd just keep stealing them.

"That Percy would willing give up blue pancakes?" I asked smiling when she nodded in response.

"What can I say, it's love" Percy said and lean in to kiss me. Thalia rolled her eyes fondly at us, where as Piper was laughing so hard she was crying.

The night was full of laughs and great company; it was a really great way to end what had been a really good day.

Δ

~Author's Note~

Hi all thanks for reading this chapter I really hope you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you thought.

I got an anonymous review on chapter 5 about Hazel's age saying that she'd be 15 in this story I'd calculated her to be 17 (as she was 14 in the Heroes of Olympus series and this is three years on) which I know is still young for someone to have a child, but if you think about all Hazel has been through, I didn't think it was too out of the realm of possibility but if I've miscalculated or offended anyone I do apologise for that.

Varloc – Thank you for your review! I'm really glad you're enjoying and your words flatter me! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter!

Origami – Thank you for your review! I'm really glad you're enjoying! I update when I can unfortunately life just gets in the way sometimes but I really hope you let me know what you thought of this chapter!

Sahanya ganegoda – Thank you for your review! I'm really glad you're enjoying! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter!

IamWizard5210 – Thank you for your review! I'm really glad you're enjoying! I'm sorry you didn't feel the chapter title matched – it was meant to be sarcastic! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter.

Happy reading all!