~ I ~ Feather in the Wind ~ I ~

~ Jasper ~

~ Historical (fan) fiction ~

~ Chapter 9 ~

1845. After a forced agreement with Europeans, 15 year old Piper is betrothed to Jason Grace, son of the one who has caused much harm to her people. Yet she doesn't know that and it doesn't help the vast rumors of forced marriages with the lightly-colored she had heard of. But yet she never thought that she would fall for him, despite the knowledge that he might leave.

~ Expecting ~

~ Piper ~

After two months, Piper was showing a bit more. She stood in front of floor length mirror. She turned to her side, wanting to see her baby. Now her usual clothes didn't fit around her waist. Her feet ached after two hours of any type of activity. That morning, Piper woke up to Jason by her side, with his warm hand on her belly. It was obvious that they anticipate the arrival of their child.

This day, Jason was going to do some complicated business arrangements with Percy that Piper had no intentions in finding out what they were. Financial and such. Piper loved it when Jason did business with Percy. That meant more time with Annabeth. Thalia still had study classes to accomplish so she wouldn't accompany them this morning.

Then there was a knock on the door. Piper quickly stopped standing in front of the mirror but it was too late. Jason, who knocked, noticed.

"Saw that." He smirked. He shut the door and walked to her. "Don't hide it. Be proud of showing it and trying to see yourself." He assured her.

"Doing so makes me feel like the ladies at the dressmaker shop. They always model their dresses before ever picking one to purchase." Piper stated, dropping her arms at her side.

Jason chuckled. "You're so pure, Pipes. I love that about you, you know?"

Piper sat at the edge of the bed. "Pure? Is that good?"

"Yes, it is. You stay your true self. And that will make a great character of our child you know. I hope it gathers your eyes. Our baby would look beautiful, like you." Jason said, placing his hand on her noticeable bump.

Piper couldn't help a grin. She loved the way he said 'our baby'. He wasn't ashamed of her or their child. He wanted to have it no matter what.

Our.

Piper smiled, "I hope it wins your heart, Jason. You are so kind, I wouldn't want it to grow otherwise."

"Oh stop that." Jason blushed, "Now let's hurry. Percy and Annabeth would be arriving any second now."

Piper nodded. She stood and followed Jason, but not without sneaking a peek in the mirror once more.

~ I ~

"Hello, hello. Let's get going J." Percy stated once he arrived at the doorstep. Piper and Jason were waiting there already.

Annabeth smacked her husband's arm. "Say hello properly."

"Whatever you say Wise Girl. Hello, good morning. Piper." He kissed Piper's hand with his signature grin. She couldn't help but feel weird at such action. "J," he bowed.

"Oh enough of that, it doesn't come naturally to you Percy." Jason chuckled. Annabeth nodded, giving up. Piper smiled.

"Fine with me. Bye, Love. See you by dinner." Percy smiled at Annabeth. He gave her a kiss on her cheek and kissed Piper's hand once more.

Jason told Piper, by her ear, "Like Percy said we'll be back by supper time. Take care, both of you."

He kissed Piper's cheek as well and smiled warmly at her, placing a hand on her baby bump.

Once the men left, Annabeth proceeded to hug Piper.

"Oh my! Look at you. That baby!" Annabeth rubbed her belly.

Piper giggled. She hadn't gotten used to people touching her belly. Reyna does it all the time and Piper can't get used to the tickling sensation.

Annabeth noticed, "Feels weird?"

Piper laughed and nodded. "A bit."

"So let's go. Get some fresh air." Annabeth said, preparing her sun umbrella. Soon enough, they were in town.

They had gotten deep into a conversation that Piper didn't know its roots.

"I would like to have a child someday. But my fear is that Percy being to hooked up in his political activism might not encounter his child at all. I'm sure he would love him but time with it might not take place." Annabeth confessed to Piper. "I mean Jason has an incredible gift of being able to balance out his family and work but Percy… I am worried."

"Annabeth, I am not the correct person to come out with this but I am sure if Percy sees and takes in your three years of marriage he would see that it's time to settle in and create a family." Piper encouraged.

Annabeth nodded and seemed to take in her words. "But at the moment, I don't see him as a father. You saw him today. He was already for work and nearly leaving without saying a mere hello. Only until I reminded him."

"Annabeth, can I ask you something?" Piper narrowed her eyes. They stopped by a jewelry store. Piper picked up a beautiful turquoise stone necklace.

Annabeth nodded, staying by her side.

"Are you expecting as well?" Piper inquired.

Annabeth took a moment to respond. "No, I don't think so. But I think it's a feeling, you know? I feel different. Or maybe it's just a wish turning into an illusion. I don't know."

Piper studied her with her eyes and Annabeth felt intimidated. "Okay, maybe I am. The town doctor told me at my regular check-up."

"I'm sure if you sit Percy down and talk to him, but really talk to him, he'll understand that it's time to settle in." Piper restated.

"Will you help me? I feel that I can't talk to him anymore. We have lost that. It wasn't like that. We used to joke around and kid, now he is serious. I mean it should be a good thing but that is not how we work. I'm serious, he's goofy. It balances out."

"You love him?" Piper asked her.

"Yes." Annabeth answered immediately.

"Then keep trying, now more than ever. You have a life within you. Don't give up. And you can count on me like when you said I could count on you." Piper supported.

"Thank you." Then Annabeth decided to lighten up the mood, "We'll be mothers almost at the same time."

"Yes," Piper chuckled. She turned her head towards the bakery. The smoke from the oven was swirling in the air. The freshly baked bread was calling her name.

Annabeth noticed, "Everything alright?"

"Uh, yes…" Piper said mesmerized.

"Let's go; I want some too anyway." Annabeth chuckled and together the two mothers-to-be walked to the bakery.

~ I ~

~ Jason ~

In his office, Jason along with his best friend, Percy were writing an article to publish in the newspaper. Just a few more words…

"Aha!" Percy exclaimed.

Jason, stirring his coffee walked over to him. "What is it?"

"This ready to publish. I'm going to take it to Hephaestus. He might forge a mold for us to use to print this babe up." Percy stood from his desk.

"Hey, are you sure? We are a peace fighting group here. Remember what the mayor said. 'No misunderstandings'." Jason snatched the article from Percy's hands, earning a scowl from him. Jason smirked.

After Jason proofread it, he let Percy go to Hephaestus.

Jason chuckled. He started to bring on the blank paper to send a copy to the newspaper company.

As he did so, he began to think of his child. He wondered if Piper would be a great mother. She is an amazing pure hearted person but will she be able to handle motherhood. Jason would have to learn but Piper is practically a child. He hated the fact she is just a child and that he and her… well yeah… Sure many men had young wives but that didn't reassure Jason.

How can a child raise a child? Piper is mature and responsible but she is still a young.

Then an idea occurred to Jason. Is Percy ever going to have a child? He is one year older than Jason and Jason has already beat him in that scoreboard. Jason had the feeling that soon, Annabeth would be expecting.

Then he thought of Percy's obsessive side. This activism was taking in to many cells in his brain. Nothing else matter. Their talks only consisted of their work. He used to brag about Annabeth 'til Jason's exhaustion. Now, he talked about the lands and people within.

This is something he would have to manly-talk with Percy.

Not a good ending, but it's something. For next chapters, get your fancy dresses and masks ready. A masquerade ball in-the-making is-a-coming in the next chappies!

~BeautiWind –heart-