The prompts that inspired this piece are:

"My husband hasn't asked me to be his valentine. He just assumes I will be because we're married. How rude."

"Date someone that makes you roll your eyes and smile right after."

"Everyday is Valentine's Day when you're with the right person."

Also, I got some of the kid's names from author LiveLaughLove728. I became attached to them. So credit to her.

Warning: Mild mentions of sex

Annabeth didn't really care about Valentine's day. It was a holiday invented by Hallmark to sell more cards and chocolates. Besides, cupid was Roman, and Annabeth was Greek. And to be quite frank, Aphrodite had interfered in her love life enough that she didn't feel like honoring the goddess for anything in particular.

The only reason she even noticed it was Valentine's day at all was because she had to get all the Valentine's cards ready for the exchange at the kids' schools. Apparently, mortal elementary schools took Valentine's day very seriously. Skylar had been bringing home pink, heart shaped art projects for a week already.

"It's just so rude!"

Annabeth was brought out of her thoughts by her best friend Piper, who was sitting across from her at the kitchen island, nursing a glass of Prosecco.

"What is?"

"Annabeth, weren't you listening!? I SAID that Jason hasn't even asked me to be his Valentine!" Piper punctuated her whining by taking a big gulp of her Prosecco, and slamming it down on the countertop.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "You and Jason are married. Isn't being his Valentine, I don't know, implied?"

"That's exactly the problem! He just ASSUMES I'll be his Valentine because we're married! It's rude!" Piper pouted. "I wanted to be asked."

Annabeth chuckled at the look on Piper's face. "I'm sorry Pipes, but this purely a 'child of Aphrodite' problem."

"What? So Percy's asked you already?"

Annabeth played dumb. "Asked me what?"

"To be his Valentine, dummy!"

"Of course not. He knows I don't care about this stupid day. We don't need another day to show each other we love each other. He tells me he loves me a dozen times a day. Every day might as well be Valentine's Day if you're with the right person. Besides, that's what our anniversary is for."

"But Annabeth-"

"Shouldn't you get going? It's going to take you at least an hour to get ready for dinner tonight, and you've already polished off an entire glass of wine."

Piper hadn't meant to turn this into a gossip session about how her husband wouldn't ask her to be his valentine. Piper's original task was dropping off Aiden and Zoe at Percy and Annabeth's for a playdate/sleepover so that she and Jason could enjoy Valentine's day together- child free. But once she and Annabeth started talking and the wine started flowing, she just got away from herself.

"Oh My Gosh, it's been an HOUR? You're right, I have to go. I totally owe you one for taking the kids on Valentine's Day."

"It's no problem, Pipes. Logan, Nicky, and Skylar have been dying to spend more time with their cousins. Plus, they'll keep each other occupied enough that Percy and I might actually have a little time to ourselves tonight."

Piper's face broke into a sly smile. "So you DO care about Valentine's Day!" she accused her friend.

"Not at all, Piper. It's just that things have been busy lately for all of us- between the kids and our jobs, I feel like we haven't even talked in a week. I'm hoping the kids will leave us alone enough for us to just turn on a movie in our room, and enjoy each other's company for a while."

"Does that include trying for baby number four?" Piper questioned with a smile. The Aphrodite part of her couldn't resist.

"Piper, NO! I've already told you, we're happy with the three."

Piper pouted. "But you and Percy make such cute babies!"

"Why don't you catch up to me first, and then we'll talk," Annabeth teased her.

"That's what I'm hoping to do tonight. I'm ovulating," Piper proudly announced.

"Ew, gross. I did not need to know that."

"Why do you think I asked you to watch the kids!? Hey! You should be ovulating too! We're on the same cycle-"

"That's enough, Piper!" Annabeth blushed red. She really, REALLY wanted Piper to stop talking.

Luckily, the girl across from her took the hint. "Anyway, thanks again, Annabeth. Enjoy your night with Percy!"

Piper quickly gave her children goodbye kisses, told them to be good for their Aunt and Uncle, and left to get ready for her...evening...with Jason.

Percy had been tasked with picking up Pizza for the kids. Annabeth was certain this was something he could handle. She checked her watch. He should be home in a few minutes, and then hopefully once the kids were fed, they would pass out soon after and leave her and Percy to some peace and quiet for a few hours.

"Babe, a little help here?" Percy had brought home Pizza alright.

Four boxes, to be exact.

"Percy! I told you to get TWO pizzas!" She chided him, as she helped him set the boxes on the counter. "Why on earth would you think we need FOUR!?"

"Because I know our kids. And I know the Grace kids. And trust me, they're gonna polish this off easy."

"Not four boxes worth, Percy," she deadpanned, crossing her arms over her chest.

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, one box is just for us, but...let's just feed the kids, and then I'll explain, okay?"

She rolled her eyes at him, but decided that if she wanted to survive this night with five kids under age 11 in the house, she needed him alive. "Fine. Proceed."

"Yes!" he cheered. "I'll go feed the little monsters. Wait here. And don't open that last box until I'm back!"

She really wished he wouldn't call them "monsters" given their circumstances, but it was a habit he couldn't seem to break. His words earned another eye roll from his wife. He grabbed three of the pizza boxes, and headed into the living room. "Kids, pizza's here!"

Cries of "Dad you're the best!" and "Thanks, Uncle Percy!" rang out as the kids barrelled into the living room for their treat. Even though it was totally Annabeth's idea to get them pizza, she let Percy take the praise.

Once he was content that the kids were settled and weren't going to destroy the sofas with pizza grease, Percy came back into the kitchen to find his wife waiting, with a bemused expression on her face.

"What?"

"Nothing. So what's the big secret with the last pizza?"

"Oh!" he ran over to the remaining box, looking as giddy about the pizza as the kids did. "This one I got especially for us."

"Oh?" she said, quirking an eyebrow.

"Behold!" he announced as he flipped open the box.

Inside was a heart shaped pizza, with a crust made out of pink-colored garlic knots. On the lid, written in Percy's childlike handwriting, was a single sentence: I know this is "cheesy" but will you be my Valentine?

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. Gods, she loved this man so much. Even when he was this "cheesy."

When Annabeth didn't answer, Percy immediately became self conscious. "Well, Wise girl? Will you be my Valentine?"

She smiled at him. "You're an idiot."

"But I'm your idiot, right?"

"Yup. I'm stuck with you, Seaweed Brain." She walked to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He settled his hands on her waist. "Of course I'll be your Valentine." She kissed him softly.

"Good. You had me worried for a moment there!"

"At least you're a step ahead of Jason. You know I hate this holiday, and you still asked me. Piper's upset that Jason hasn't asked her. Maybe you should text him and give him a heads up, so he doesn't have an angry wife on his hands on Valentine's Day."

"Yea, I'll do that. And of course I know you hate this holiday. But I figured if it involved pizza and garlic knots, you'd indulge me."

"This is true. Come on, let's take this to our room before the kids find out we have garlic knots."

Percy grabbed the box of heart shaped-pizza and followed her up the stairs. She chanced a look at the kids in the living room, who already seemed to be dozing off in front of the TV. It looked like she was going to get her quiet night with Percy after all.

Photo that inspired the pizza can be found on the Facebook page for Hold My Knots (Hillsdale, NJ) in a post from February 10th, 2020. If you're local, check them out. They're dope.