Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or the song, "You're Not Sorry".

"Annabeth. Annabeth!"

"Huh?" I said, snapping out of my deep thought. Thalia raised an eyebrow at me.

"You're still thinking about her, aren't you?"

"Well, yeah," I said, fixing my eyes on the pink and blue balloons above my head. "I mean, what sort of mother doesn't attend her own daughter's baby shower?" I looked around my living room at all the women from both Percy and my family (and Aphrodite, who couldn't possibly pass up something like this), all laughing and eating together. Everyone seemed to be having a good time... besides me. I was moping about because Athena hadn't felt obligated to attend the festivities.

"Well, maybe gifts will make you feel better," said Thalia with a smile.

"Probably not," I said.

"Oh, quit it," said Thalia, swatting me playfully on the arm.

"Hey, you can't hit a pregnant person!" I said, grinning at her.

"Watch me!" she joked, wiggling her eyebrows absurdly. "Now, about those gifts..."

Dozens of onesies, a illustrated copy of the Iliad and the Odyssey, multiple pacifiers, a stroller, a stuffed saytr, three packages of bottles and a monogrammed bib later, I was knee deep in wrapping paper as I unwrapped the umpteenth gift.

I peeled back the tissue paper carefully to reveal a small training dagger, lightweight and engraved with tiny vines that wrapped around the hilt.

"Oh, Clarisse, it's beautiful!" I looked across the party at her, beaming as she looked slightly abashed. "Well, I know they won't be able to use it for a few years, but seeing as they're your and Percy's child, I'm sure they'll be a natural."

One of Percy's cousins cast a bewildered look at her sister that clearly said, What the hell will their baby need a knife for? And why would they be a natural? Other female family members exchanged glances of confusion and smiled forcibly at me. This is how much of the baby shower had gone; the Olympian guests doing Olympian things and the mortal guests being thoroughly confused, but not really asking questions.

"Thank you," I said, and, reaching around my swollen belly, carefully placed the knife next to my other shower gifts.

"Here, this one next!" said Piper, plucking a gift off the table at random and handing it to me.

Eyes on me, I turned the package over in my hands to find the tag.

"It's from my mother," I said quietly. Instantly, the room became quiet and uncomfortable. Everyone was aware that my mom hadn't shown up, and we had carefully tiptoed around the topic for most if the party in order to keep the mood light and keep me from crying. (Curse hormones.) Now that she had a sent gift though, I became hopeful that she had at least wanted to come, but couldn't make it. My heart soared as I tore eagerly at the silver paper to reveal a soft silvery afghan.

"Oh!"

Everyone gasped as I held it up, the material sift as silk as it slid through my fingers. It was the perfect baby blanket, and I couldn't wait to swaddle my beautiful baby in it. I was giddy with excitement; my mom did care! Though I knew she still wasn't thrilled that I was birthing more 'Sea Spawn' she appeared to have come around enough to care for her new grandchild.

"That's beautiful, Annabeth!" said Sally.

"I think my mom made it," I replied, somewhat giddy as I inspected the flawless stitches with glee.

After we admired the blanket for a while, I was forced to put it aside to keep opening other gifts, though I didn't want to let it go for anything. As I handed it off to Thalia for safe keeping, she gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

See, silly? She does care! I nodded at her, considerably happier than before.

The rest of the party passed quickly, and everyone seemed to take note of my improved attitude. I took to toting around the blanket from my mother, absently stroking it while I chatted with guests. It was, by far, the best baby gift I'd gotten. This was something I would treasure forever.

When all of the aunts and cousins had gone, Sally and my friends bid me a final goodbye and left me alone in my living room decked out with light pink and baby blue decorations.

Standing up and stretching, I made my way over to the left over cake, figuring that with all the weight I had gained, what was another slice of cake? I cut myself a generous piece, not even feeling sorry about it.

As I turned around, fork poised over my piece of strawberry shortcake, I found myself looking into the face of Athena, who looked regal in her dark grey dress that floated to the ground.

"It appears I missed the party. Sorry," she said shortly, though I noted she didn't look very sorry.

"It's okay," I lied. "Want some cake?"

"Eh... No, thank you," said Athena, eyeing my piece of cake. "It appears your eating enough for the both of us."

"Probably," I said, shrugging. Feeling a little awkward, much like I always did around my mom, we stood in uncomfortable silence, the only noise the whirl of the ceiling fan. Realizing I had to say something, I decided on the topic of my favorite shower gift.

"Hey, thank you so much for the blanket, Mom! I love it- it's just gorgeous," I gushed, beaming at her. "Did you make it?"

Athena raised a delicate eyebrow at me, managing to look very wise but confused at the same time. "I'm sorry," she said. "What blanket?"

"The one you sent," I said, frowning. "You know... the silver one?" Putting my plate down, I waddled to the other side of the room and snatched up the afghan, holding it up for her to see.

"No, not from me," she said, shaking her head. The way she said it so casually, as if it did not matter, nearly broke my heart.

"Well, who's it from then?" I asked, refusing to believe that this perfect gift wasn't from my mother. The fan continued to blow little waves of cool air over me.

"Well, lets see," said Athena, reaching out a hand to inspect the blanket. "Hmm... the pattern is flawless but the hem is a little sloppy, and some stitches are larger than others... This looks like Aphrodite's work," she said dismissively. "Meddlesome fool, I can't imagine why she did that." Despite my bulging stomach, I felt rather deflated. "It's a lousy blanket anyway," she criticized. "I can't believe you even thought this was my work. I'd get rid of it if I were you." She tossed it aside, where it flopped pathetically onto the sofa.

"Hey!" I objected, moving heavily to pick it up.

"What?" asked my mother, who was now casually prodding my cake with the fork. "What's it to you? It's just a blanket. Not even a good one." She shrugged.

"I... " I said, trailing off when my mother turned her sharp grey eyes on me. I continued,"I just thought for a moment, you were happy for me and you were excited for the baby's arrival. That's all."

My mother sighed. "It's not that I'm unhappy for you... you just have so much potential. And you're throwing at away with this Poseidon boy and his sea spawn. That's all."

Looking down at the baby blanket, I felt disappointment seep into every fiber of my being. Maybe I was being over sensitive, maybe it was the hormones talking, maybe it was because my mother had never supported Percy and I, but this was the last straw. All of my life I had tried so hard to earn her approval, and with this blanket I had finally thought I'd had it, I finally thought she cared... but no. It was Aphrodite taking pity on me, trying to make her favorite couple in history be as happy as possible.

All this time I've been wasting, hoping that she would come around and finally just get over her feelings about Percy and accept it. Yeah, right.

"Look," huffed Athena, no doubt witnessing my mini pity party. "I'm sorry that I was late and I didn't get a gift. Okay. There? Happy?"

I met her cold, hard gaze.

"You're not sorry," I said quietly.

Athena stiffened, her state intensifying as her eyebrows knit together. "What did you say to me?"

"I said," I told her, my voice growing steadier as my confidence strengthened. "You're not sorry."

"Well," said my mom, scoffing. "That's a rather hefty accusation."

"You know what?" I said, ignoring her jibe as my voice began to rise. "I give you chances to fix your mistakes all the time, but every single time all you do is let me down!" The fan kept spinning, causing little jets of air to toss loss curls into my face.

Athena, standing and raising her own voice, snapped, "Look, Annabeth, I'm sorry-"

"I don't believe you! Not like I did before!" I yelled, tears stinging my eyes. "I'm so done with hurting and worrying over you, trying to please you!"

"Now, you listen!" shouted Athena, her voice loud enough to shake the house.

"No!" I yelled, lashing out at her. "I don't need to hear anything you have to say!"

"You will listen to me!" she shouted, causing the floor to tremble. "You ungrateful, insolent, disloyal-"

"Just leave!" I yelled. "Just leave!" I flung the blanket at my mother.

My husband and Nico Di Angelo, with their knack for impeccable timing, walked in the front door just then to see me hurl a baby blanket at the goddess of wisdom.

"Er... Hello," said Percy tentatively, obviously sensing they had picked a bad time to come home after vacating the premisses for the baby shower. Athena, having been throughly stunned that I grew something at her, regained her composure long enough to glare at Percy.

"Uh, hello, Athena. Annabeth," he said, nodding nervously. Nico shuffled his feet and suddenly became radically interested in his shoelaces. My mother and I chose to remain silent, oblivious to Percy's attempts to break the silence. "Well," he said, "this is some terrible weather we've been having, huh?"

"Dude," said Nico, "It's like, sunny. And seventy-two degrees. Not even a cloud in the sky." Percy elbowed him in the ribs, effectively silencing him.

"Well, we better leave you two alone," said Percy anxiously, turning to go. "We forgot... the stuff."

"The stuff," nodded Nico. "Man," he said as they began to walk off, "Did you see how they were going at it? They've seriously got anger management problems-"

"Hey, Annabeths pregnant," defended Percy. "Hormones, my man."

"Well then what's Athena's excuse-"

"It's fine," I said loudly, cutting them off. "Mom was just leaving." I glared at her. "Weren't you, mother?"

Athena said nothing, just fixed me with a steely gaze before sweeping out of the front door, totally ignoring Percy and Nico. The three of us watched the door slam, sending a picture on the wall crashing to the ground.

"What was that all about?" asked Percy.

"Yeah," agreed Nico. "Pregnancy is definitely mellowing you out Annabeth. I remember when you used to throw daggers instead of blankets." He chuckled, finding himself amusing.

I sort of made a choking noise before bursting into tears, collapsing on the couch.

"Look what you've done, you moron!" said Percy, smacking Nico on the back of his head . "Never make jabs at a pregnant person!"

"No, it's not Nico's fault," I sobbed, waving a hand. "It's- it's my mother!"

I needed a good cry, just to let all the pain and frustration I had harbored for my mother just slip off. I buried my face into the pillow of the couch, letting it soak up my tears.

The boys, peaches that they were, moved in on either side of me, throwing an arm around my shoulder and offering words of comfort. Percy took my hand, and Nico awkwardly patted my head.

"What are you doing, Nico?"

"I don't know," he admitted. I had to laugh. And laugh. And laugh.

Pretty soon I was laughing hysterically, and Percy just continued to hug me while Nico looked at me like I was crazy.

"How much do you charge for a ride on the hormone swing?" asked Nico, somewhat alarmed. I shot him a dirty look through my tears, to which he immediately shrank back from.

Being pregnant was a pain in the ass for a child of Athena; hormones literally override every sensible brain cell you have, turning you into an emotional idiot.

"Are you ready to talk about what happened?" asked Percy gently. Feeling the tears coming back, I nodded.

I explained to them everything, with a lot of sniffling on my part, cringing on Percy's part, and cake eating on Nico's part. It felt good to vent, as if a weight on my chest had been lifted and I could breathe easier. I was devastated by my mothers indifference, but in I way I felt like I was cut loose of invisible bonds that I didn't know fettered me. I didn't owe my mom anything. I could lead my own life without worry about my Athena hovering, waiting to strike me down.

I was a free woman.

"Speaking of free," said Nico after I had expressed just that, "What do you say to some free frozen yogurt?"

"Are you offering?" I asked.

"No, I meant free for me," he said, and Percy rolled his eyes. "Fro-yo is on you guys."

"Nico, you just ate half of a cake-"

"So, what, it had strawberries on it. That doesn't make it make, that makes it fruit." Nico hopped up off the couch. "Come on, Annabeth could obviously use a pick me up. Lets go."

"Who said the frozen yogurt would pick her up?" objected Percy.

"It would," I whispered.

"It would?" Percy looked down at me, willing to do anything to cheer me up. "Well, lets go then."

"You're so whipped," said Nico as we all clambered to our feet.

"Just wait until your wife is eight months pregnant," murmured Percy out of the corner of his mouth.

Ten minutes later, I sat happily on the red plastic chair at Ruby's Frozen Yogurt, digging into my yogurt and swinging my dangling feet back and fourth.

"What did you get?" asked Nico around a mouthful.

"Mint cookie and salted caramel yogurt with mango, marshmallows, peanut butter, gummy worms, snickers, blackberries and hot fudge," I replied merrily, digging into my creation.

"Uh... gross," said Nico.

"Shut up, I'm pregnant," I said, sticking my tongue out.

"Is that your excuse for everything?"

"Pretty much."

"So," said Percy, sitting down with his yogurt in hand, which consisted of mainly blue items. "Lets play the name game."

"Lets," I said, sitting up straighter.

"Annabeth Jr. if its a girl, Percy Jr. If its a boy. There, done," said Nico.

"Yeah... No," I replied.

"How about Silena Bianca for a girl, and Charles Luke for a boy?" suggested Percy.

"This isn't Harry Potter, where we just name our kids after dead people. Besides," I said, placing my hand on my stomach. "I'm positive it's a girl. I can feel it."

"Name it Nico," said Nico.

"Weren't you listening?" I said. "It's a girl, silly."

"Nicole, then," suggested Nico.

"What names do you like, Annabeth?" asked Percy.

"Huh. Well..." I said, trailing off. "I really like old fashioned names."

"Like what?"

"Like... I dunno." My eyes strayed to the neon florescent sign in the font if the shop. "Like Ruby."

"Ruby?" asked Percy.

"Yeah, Ruby."

"Huh," said Nico.

"Huh," agreed Percy, eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Ruby Anette."

"Anette?" I asked in surprise.

"Yeah. I like that name."

"Ruby Anette Jackson," said Nico. "It's got a nice ring to it."

"Yeah," I said, looking over at Percy with mushy eyes. "It does."

"It does," he agreed.

That night when Ruby kept me from sleeping due to her incessant kicking, I let my mind wander to ten years from now, when I would take Ruby out for frozen yogurt and tell her the story of tonight, what an absolute train wreck it was and how she got her name. I knew we would be close; I could feel it in my bones. I couldn't wait for her to be born so I could met her, and wrap her in the silver baby blanket.

PLEASE REVIEW! Sorry Annabeth has been crying so much in recent chapters. Tswifts fault, not mine. ;) I could totally use is one ideas for the next chapter, "The way I loved you"!