Yay for me, another update in the bag. Sorry this is a bunch of filler. There shouldn't be anymore filler after this chapter. I had to get back on track. Thanks for the PMs and the reviews, I enjoy them, so keep them coming.

So read, review and enjoy and I hope to be able to make updates at least once a week now!

Disclaimer : I do not own Percy Jackson, or any of the content published from Rick Riordan or anything you might recognize such as restaurants or stores.

Chapter 17

Percy slowly woke to the early morning twilight and realized that he and Annabeth were a tangled mess on the sofa. The pair had spent a good chunk of the evening arguing over what they were going to do with the new found information.

Percy was desperate to hang on to his soon to be family, trying to convince Annabeth that he didn't care if the one or neither of the babies were his, that he would love them as if they were. They were a part of Annabeth and she was everything that mattered to him which meant the twins counted as well.

He sighed sadly and moved a stray curl out of her face and gingerly tucked it behind her ear. She stirred only slightly, just enough to snuggle into his chest more. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes, wishing he could get up without waking her so that he could do a little research on the true facts of conception.

Percy couldn't lie there anymore and he carefully rolled so that Annabeth was no longer using him as a full body pillow. He carefully deposited her onto the sofa and then untangled his arms and legs from her. She groaned at the sudden cold and he dropped a blanket over her.

After he was positive she was going to stay asleep, he quietly padded across the suite into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. He then went to the door and found his bag and pulled out his laptop. He went to the dining table and started to set up a mini work station.

It was well after dawn when Percy was startled from his research by Thalia. She had dropped a hand on to his shoulder before sitting down next to him and asking, "What are you up to cuz?"

Percy looked over at her and then leaned over the side of his chair and hugged his cousin. "I don't know how you guys do it!"

"Do what?" Thalia was beyond confused and pushed away from Percy to get a real answer out of him.

"Being a woman. My God, it sucks!"

Thalia let out a laugh and instantly covered her mouth as Percy glared at her, letting her know that Annabeth was still asleep and in close proximity. "Yes, it does suck. There is no denying that, I mean from having boobs that most guys look at instead of your eyes when you talk, to periods, getting pregnant, labor and delivery to menopause, yeah it really sucks being a woman! But you still didn't answer my question of what you are up to."

Percy sighed and shook his head as he looked back at his computer screen. "I was doing research on conception and well you know that led to all kinds of information that I really didn't want to know."

"So what did you find out?" Thalia asked curiously as she got up and moved to the kitchen and began making herself a cup of coffee.

Percy waited for her to take her seat next to him again before he began to speak quietly. "Well, I learned that it is a freaking miracle that women even get pregnant at all but beside the point. I learned that unless you do in vitro fertilization you cannot predict when a baby was conceived."

Thalia nodded at him and then waved a hand in the air telling him to get to the point with the gesture.

"Okay, there is a very real chance that one or both of these babies belong to Luke but that chance is so slim and honestly shouldn't even be a thought that crosses our minds."

"Okay genius, tell me why that is, because this is news to me."

"The need to procreate. Human nature. Whatever you want to call it. It's a man thing apparently. We were unsafe twice. Yeah, I know, hang me for that later. I can't fix that, nor do I want to, but because of that, it means that more of me got to her fertilized eggs. I was also reading something about sperm forming a barrier of sorts and attacking any new sperm that enters the playing field so that the original group can go forth and do their job. It's a protection thing. So if that is the case, they are mine." Percy crossed his arms over his chest and looked over at his cousin, quite proud of his findings.

"So, you need to convince her not to do anything stupid. The doctor did say there was a simple blood test they could do but that it was usually not accurate with fraternal twins. He wanted her back in two weeks. Did she even mention any of that last night in your arguing?"

"You heard all of that huh?"

"I am pretty sure half the Omni heard part of that argument last night Perce." Thalia leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest and looked toward the sofa where Annabeth was still sleeping. "I wish she would just see what a blessing she has been given. I know you do, obviously or you wouldn't be fighting so hard with her over this with her."

Percy pushed his chair back a bit and then patted Thalia on the knee. He was always uncomfortable when he knew she was hinting at her loss. He never knew what to say to her but if he couldn't convince Annabeth to hang on to these babies, he was going to know all too well how she felt.

"So, did she mention anything about having to go back in two weeks?"

"Yeah, she finally told me when I asked if there was any type of early genetic testing we could do to find out if I was their father or not. The fact that she was going to keep that to herself worries me. I don't want her to not tell me things."

Thalia sighed and picked up her coffee, carefully taking a drink of the hot liquid. "I wish I could make her see."

"Make her see what?"

Her blues eyes looked up from her cup and to Percy's sea green eyes trying to convey to him what she wanted to say without actually saying it. "That this isn't the burden she is making it out to be. That those babies will change her life for the better not for the worse, no matter who the father is." Tears welled in the corners of her eyes and she willed herself not to let them fall but it did her no good. "I never wanted Luke. I never said yes despite what he told me but I never wanted to get rid of my baby. He was the innocent one in all of the mess. He didn't ask to be here and it was my job to protect him and I couldn't even do that Perce. How on earth is that fair?"

Percy watched as Thalia's blue eyes seemed to spark at the memories that were flooding her. He watched as the tears flowed freely down her cheeks, leaving salty rivers as they moved. He knew all too well the relationship with Luke took on her and the miscarriage that happened at twenty-two weeks almost killed her mentally and physically but she managed to carry on. She managed to get through it all and come out a better person.

He leaned over and hugged her again and this time she cried into his shoulder. "I am sorry I wasn't there for you more or in the way you needed me to be. I am sorry for everything you have been through."

Percy was quiet as he listened to his cousin's whimpers and he wondered how much of her life she had shared with Annabeth. Maybe if she opened up to her, Annabeth would see things differently. "How much of this does Annabeth know about? I think maybe you could help her through this more than I can."

Thalia hiccupped and sucked in several deep breaths before speaking. "I never told her any of it. She never seemed like she would be able to help much. Anxiety gets to her quickly, in case you haven't noticed. Plus threats from Luke pretty much made me keep my mouth shut."

"Promise me you will talk to her. It doesn't have to be now or even before you leave tomorrow, but just promise you will do it."

Thalia nodded and hugged Percy. "Thanks Perce. I needed to vent. This whole thing just got to me."

"Totally understand. Now, what was on the agenda for today? I need a break from all of . . . this," Percy exclaimed as he moved his hands around gesturing to the entire room.

Thalia set down her cup and tried to wipe her face off with the backs of her hands. "I think we were just going to hit the beach for a little while and bug you at work. You know, free behind the scenes tour of the dolphins and what not. I wouldn't be surprised if she just wants to stay in now."

Percy looked at Thalia sadly and nodded before she replied, "I will do my best to get her out of the house. Are you still going in to work or did you take today off?"

"I already called in to Lindsey. Told her I may be in later but wasn't sure. She was fine with it, so whatever we do, we need to get her out of the house." The pair sat quietly for a minute and Percy spoke up, "I think a trip out to the mall might be necessary. I have an idea. Go wake her up while I get breakfast going and then we can get ready and head out."

"Whatever you say. As long as today is not full of any more tears, I am in."

"Come on Annabeth, get moving," Percy said encouragingly to his girlfriend.

Annabeth stood in front of the closet mirror, looking at her silhouette. Percy walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. He watched as she sighed and then leaned back into him. "Are you seeing this?"

Percy kissed the side of her neck and tried to figure out what it was she was talking about. He looked her over in the mirror and then moved his arms out of the way. It was at that moment that he noticed what she was talking about. Peeking through her tight tank top was the slightest bump, barely visible unless you knew her body really well. Percy placed his hand on the bump and smiled at her in the mirror. "Yes I do and it's beautiful, so don't you think otherwise."

Annabeth closed her eyes and wished that things could be that simple. She didn't want to fight with Percy right now. She just wanted to pretend that things were normal, that things would be easy and that this new life with Percy would be a good one, but with the thought of Luke hiding in the corner of her mind she knew that it wasn't going to be easy. All she had to do was pretend to be happy for two weeks until the blood tests came back and then they could take the next step. It would be easy for her to pretend to be happy. She had been doing it her entire life. Sure there were times when she truly was happy but right now, things hurt too much and going back to cutting was not going to be an option despite the release she needed at the moment.

"Come on Beth. Let's go hit the mall for a bit. I think you could use a small spending spree."

"A little B&B spree would be nice," She replied airily.

"Sounds good. You ready to go? Got everything for the beach and all of the other fun stuff we have planned for today?"

Annabeth nodded and pointed into the living area of the suit, "It's all in there already. Just waiting on Thalia to get ready. You know how slow she can be."

"Hey, I resent that statement," a muffled voice replied from across the suite.

Percy quickly pulled away from Annabeth and went into the entryway to retrieve his keys as he stated, "Ladies, there is no need to fight. Let's just accept the fact that both of you are slow as dirt and have no clue what it means to be on time unless it is work related!"

"You're lucky that you are A. cute and B. that you moved away from like you did because I totally should hit you for that comment!"

Thalia emerged from her place in the guest bathroom and snuck up behind Percy and quickly smacked him across the back of the head. "There, I hit him hard enough for the both of us!"

"You suck Thals. Plain and simple."

The girls smirked as they walked past Percy and made their way out of the suite and down to the parking garage with Percy bringing up the rear. The rest of the morning went off without a hitch as they browsed the Padre Staples Mall.

Annabeth led the way most of the time, dragging the group into Barnes and Noble and several clothing stores. She allowed Thalia to drag them into Hot Topic and then they stopped in at Bath and Body Works. The girls were ready to head out for lunch when Percy grabbed Annabeth's hand a started to pull her in the opposite direction.

"Perce, the food court is the other way."

"I know, I have one place I want to stop in and I definitely want you to go with me."

Annabeth placed her free hand on her belly and Percy laughed as her stomach rumbled.

"We will be quick, I promise, and then the three of you can eat." Percy watched her carefully as a small smile played at the corner of her lips. "Come on." Percy began tugging at her hand again and she fell in line with is steps as Thalia stepped up behind them.

Percy stopped in front of a children's clothing store and opened the door for both women. He watched as the breath caught in Annabeth's throat for a moment and she froze slightly before stepping foot into the store.

"You got her in here, so that's a small victory right?"

Percy simply nodded at Thalia and then stepped in and made his way to Annabeth's side again. He slipped his hand back into hers and led her over to a wall full of stuffed animals. "Do you want to know?"

"Want to know what?" She was lost in thought as she eyeballed a sweet milk chocolate teddy bear with a lavender ribbon around its neck that was looking straight at her.

"What they are? Do you want to know? We will get the chance to find out right around Christmas right?"

Annabeth pulled her eyes from the bear slowly and looked over at Percy. She could see the love in his eyes and she didn't want to disappoint him with the wrong answer. She was only trying to get through the next two weeks before deciding on what the next move should be and here he was trying to figure out the sex of the babies. He really was planning a future with them.

She turned and looked back at the bear again, reaching out and pulling it off the shelf. She cradled the bear to her and looked up at Percy before speaking softly, "I am pretty sure one is a girl. The other still eludes me at the moment, but I am almost positive there is a girl hiding in there. So to answer your question, yes I do want to know what they are." 'As long as the blood tests or if need be amnio say they are yours,' She thought sadly, and she smiled so that Percy wouldn't catch on to her act.

Percy smiled at his girlfriend and then pulled another bear off the shelf, identical in color only sporting a soft yellow ribbon. "Their first lovies," He said with a sheepish grin and Annabeth pulled him in for a light kiss on the cheek and a hug.

Percy pulled away from her and smiled brightly at her. She tried to return the smile and prayed that he couldn't see through the barrier she was building to protect herself from any news she didn't want to hear.