I'm thinking,honestly, about discontinuing. We'll know for sure next chapter. I've just lost all inspiration, I've no idea where this story is going. I've gotten better since I started (praise God!), and I want to share THAT with you, not this. All of this good stuff is when they are older, when they're all married, all having kids. But until then...I just don't know. I've got nothing left.

Your thoughts?

Welp, hope you enjoy anyway. :)

Peace, Love, Praise and Worship, Play, Hope, and God bless!~

~Future

The Fireworks (3rd Person)

Looking out across the infinite valley, all lights died down. Dinner was over, as was singing, and as usual on the night of the fourth of July, fireworks were going to be held for all to attend, whether it be demigods, quarter-bloods, or magical creatures and Olympians. All were silent as they waited for the Stoll brothers to get things started, like they always had in the few short years they went there before leaving to start of new lives with each other.

A young girl, about seventeen, with long blonde hair sat with her friends, chatting amongst themselves, waiting for them to start. There was Elizabeth Stoll, Ellie they called her, to her right, and a young boy, Carter, to her left. He was two years young than her. One could tell by his slightly reddened face that this boy had a secret, not that anyone would ever know it seemed.

In another part of the hills and sand dunes, hidden on a blanket, Audrick Jackson sat, his knees pulled to his chest. Cancer, he kept thinking. Leukemia. Cancer. Death. She's dying. Cancer. A young girl with frail blonde hair bit her lip as she walked towards him. Her feet scraped in the sand, her toes sinking deep into the grains, not that she minded. She felt free on the sand, like she could fly. The ocean was her home. She sat down, quiet as a mouse beside him.

"Beautiful night," she mused. "Perfect for fireworks. The stars are practically glowing."

"Yeah," he said sourly. He wiped a tear from his cheek. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

His voice was so soft she almost didn't catch it. "I was afraid. You were the only real friend I've had since Stephanie, and she's really not all that friendly per say. I didn't want to lose you like I've lost everything else. But I don't have a reason to be mad at my fate. I believe in the Olympians; my mother is one of them. I still think there's something bigger out there, though, and I've no reason to be mad at it. Don't give me a reason too, please."

She was desperate, he knew it from her voice. He still hadn't looked at her. If he looked at her, he was afraid of what he would see. Would it still be that beautiful girl with rosy cheeks and blonde hair, stormy grey eyes flecked with green that he had fallen in love with? Or would he see what everyone else saw? The girl with pale, pasty skin, the one who was dying, losing her long hair, her precious life?

"Look at me?" she asked quietly.

He finally managed to jerk his head that way. His jaw dropped.

She was prettier than before. She had such an inner beauty, somet hing that he hadn't seen before, and in that moment he pictured their entire life. He could see her walking down the aisle, he saw children and grandchildren, more marriages and growing old. He saw them sitting on their porch, buying that same house, he saw cars and small wrecks and damages that he'd have to repair.

No, he hadn't pictured. He had saw. She would be his, forever, he had to make sure of that. Surely she could see it, too.

Jamie gave a small smile. "There's my Audrick."

She laced her fingers through his, watching the horizon as the last tip of sun began to sink down.

Right in front of the tide, two friends sat, one a lover, one who wasn't sure. They were young, they knew that, but they also knew that this wasn't something you just found on an average summer day. This had to be more.

For now, though, they were content with being friends.

Like his mother had said, "Friends first, more later."

Disrupting the peace came running Percy Jackson, thirty-eight years of age, using everything that he had in him. He had managed to feel what the card had said. Congratulations on your new edition. Edition? He had asked himself. What could that be?

He knew, though, and he was afraid. He was afraid like any expecting father was. He was afraid for Annabeth. She was forty and gaining ground. Could she handle another pregnancy?

He feared for the child as well. What would happen if they died before he was even twenty? They were both growing older by the day, it seemed.

He guessed that in some ways he felt excited. A new child. That was brilliant, amazing even. A baby. Staying up all night, alternating diaper-changes and feedings between each other. And surely Audrick, Hayley and Chelsea would help out. What was there to worry about?

Still, the twinge was there, even as he ran by each separate group, stopping by Hayley's first.

"Hales, where's your mom?" he asked. His worried town and jumpiness gave it away.

"Uh, by the Southside, I think."

Percy nodded his thanks and took off in that direction. He almost stopped by to talk to Jamie and Audrick, but he knew that wasn't the right thing to do. From what he could tell, he was still pretty upset. Maybe he should have told Audrick. Maybe it was better that he hadn't.

He kept running.

Next he caught sight of the young lovers, forced himself not to gag. Percy didn't like them, not at this age. They needed to wait.

He kept running.

He ran and ran and ran, past many groups and many old friends. Grover tried to stop him at one point, but he shoved him off.

"Later, G-Man!" He yelled, and Grover laughed at that. Percy hadn't called Grover "G-Man" since their kids were born. It felt nice to him.

And then, after what felt like forever, he saw her. She saw him.

The last bit of light was shining through the edge of the trees next to the ocean. They shown on Annabeth, her skin glowing in the light. She looked like a goddess in her white, summery dress. Blonde curls cascaded down her back, and the grey which had grown in the last twenty-five years simply made her look even better.

Percy felt like he was melting again, even as he sat beside her and handed her the card.

"You're pregnant." He meant for it to be a statement.

She nodded. "Yep."

"You didn't tell me?"

"Couldn't bring myself. I didn't want you to worry. We're not as old as they're trying to make us, Perce."

"And who are they exactly?" he smirked.

She rolled her eyes and shoved him playfully. "You know, everyone. The kids. Katie and Travis Stoll. The world. I mean, Katie's forty-three, and Max is only two years old. If she can do it, I can do it and…"

Annabeth looked off to the side and bit her lip.

"Are you mad at me?"

Percy shook his head. "How could I be? I understand. Things happen and life moves on." He placed his hand on her still flat stomach. "We'll make it through this, just like we have three times before."

With a smile, the last of the light faded, and he leaned forward, kissed Annabeth passionately.

The fireworks sounded in the sky, exploding with a fiery light and passion; a startling soul and amazing feeling.

Sure, Hayley thought, examining her parents over on the horizon. They aren't perfect. They never will be. But I can honestly say, I've never been more proud to be anyone else's kid.

She turned back and watched the sky being filled with light.

Now we are complete.