A/N
HOLY CRAP. HI GUYS.
Okay, okay, I know that this is NOT the story y'all want updated. My bad. I've been away all summer, with little to no internet access and absolutely no free time whatsoever due to summer coursework. And here I was thinking senior year would be easy. (I was wrong. So very, very wrong.) And while updates will still be scarce (common app and college applications, anyone?), at least they will be more present this year, especially in the second semester-largely due to the enormous amount of blow-off classes I'll be taking. :D
Mkay, and pertaining to this story: this chapter and the next will both be continuations of the previous chapter, i.e. the universe where Percy and Annabeth are married and in possession of a tiny offspring. I just really love the idea of them as a family unit (and, okay, I adore little kids), so that will continue on for a while...not for too long, though, for those of you not so fond. Hope I don't scare anyone away ;)
Lots of love,
dnrl
(Exit, pursued by a bear)
Fall into the Sky
(a hundred moments, a single love)
9: months
Light barely graced the far-off horizon; the sky above was still dark enough to show faint outlines of glimmering stars. The city of New York was far enough away that no noise disturbed the quiet air. A breeze stirred, ruffling the leaves of the trees and the grass in the sandy dunes of the beach. The ocean, ever-present, splashed a quiet response to the light sussurus. In the little white house on the beach, all was soft and silent save for the gentle brushing of the waves, the whispering of the wind, and the muted creak of a wooden rocking chair, easing back-and-forth, back-and-fourth.
The chair slowed and, finally, stopped, and the man sitting in it peeked carefully down at the tiny form in his arms. Eyelashes fluttered slightly open, showing little sea-green crescents, and the tiny nose crinkled as the baby began to snuff and wiggle in displeasure. The man leaned back and began to rock again, but now the rhythm had been broken and the infant would not be content. Sighing, he stood, carefully shifting the tiny body to his shoulder, cradling the soft downy head with a hand as it settled into the crook of his neck. He placed an absent-minded kiss on the crown of the child's head and walked to the window, bouncing softly with each step. He felt the baby's face relax against his neck and he smiled.
He could see the sun rising through the glass, peeking out over the ocean. It was officially a new day-an anniversary.
"Six months," he whispered against his daughter's head, staring out into the growing waves. "You're halfway to a year, baby girl." Almost in response, fingers curled into a fist on his chest, and she snuffled softly into his shoulder. He laughed and bounced her again.
"You're still so small." He patted her on the back, and her feet kicked out without real purpose. "I don't think I was ever this small. I mean, I guess I would've had to have been at some point, but...you're just. You're just so sweet and innocent and soft, and I know that you're going to do all these amazing things when you grow up...and you'll still be sweet and innocent and soft, just my little girl. Always. Will that annoy you? I bet it will." She yawned in reply. "How many boys am I going to have to scare away, huh? I bet you'll have a face to launch a hundred ships..."
"A thousand, Seaweed Brain."
He nearly jumped at his wife's voice, but managed to hold still enough to allow their daughter to sleep. He turned away to see her leaning against the door frame, his boxers slung low on her hips, a large white t-shirt (which he's also fairly sure is his) draped down over her shoulders. "A what?"
"If you're going to quote, at least do it properly. It's 'the face that launched a thousand ships.'" She was teasing him, he could tell by the look on her face as she sidled up, leaning against him and pressing an inaudible kiss to the small downy head that rested between them.
"I apologize for my blasphemy," he said with a smirk, leaning slightly down to capture her lips with his own for a brief, chaste kiss.
"Apology accepted. Now come back to bed-we still have an hour or two to sleep before we have to get ready."
"Ready?"
"Nice and Alison are coming for brunch." She paused and looked up at him, lips twisting in careful scrutiny. "You forgot, didn't you?"
"I plead the fifth," he evaded, carefully dodging a light blow and moving towards the crib. He jostles the gate with a knee, gently sliding it down and leaning over to place his cargo onto the fuzzy pink blanket. She began to fuss without opening her eyes, and he guided a small pink thumb towards her mouth. She drew it in and quieted. He placed another kiss on her forehead, drawing the corner of the blanket over her as he pulled the gate up and secured the latch. He stood there for another long moment, watching her chest rise and fall; he felt Annabeth pressed up against his back, her own chest mimicking their daughter's. He twined his fingers with hers, and she kissed between his shoulder blades.
"Thank you so much," he said finally, drawing back and turning to look at her. His voice was deliberately soft, just a shade above a whisper. Annabeth replied in an even quieter voice,
"Come on, Percy. Let's go back to bed."
She pulled him down the long, carpeted hallway, gently closing the wooden door to their room behind him, pushed him down onto the bed, and curled up against his side, warm and pliant. He felt their breathing even out in tandem, and his eyes fluttered shut. He was at peace, content, happy with what he had made of his life, with the people he had in it. Now, to relax and to rest...he couldn't hold back a smile as he remembered anew: it had been six whole months, now. Six months of soft fingers and little toes, six months of frilly dresses and big green eyes, six months of diapers and spit-up, six months of calling his mother or Annabeth's stepmom to figure out what had to be done, six months of occasional worry and frequent joy...six months.
A wail split the silent air.
Annabeth gave a little sob into his shirt. "I haven't slept for a whole night in six months!"
:D
Although it wasn't mentioned in this story, Baby Girl Jackson does have a name: Charlotte, nickname Charlie (for Beckendorf); her middle name is Silena.
Ta!