Annabeth:
I stared down at my stomach with complete surprise.
It kicked.
The baby kicked.
It was the first time I had felt a kick. I had known about the baby for three months, but it was different now. It was there. There was a freakin' person in me!
I felt at my stomach, and the baby kicked again. I almost cried as I realized that I didn't really know anyone I could share this with. My best friend, Marie, was in back Russia for a week because her father got sick, and I couldn't call her. I hadn't spoken to Rachel since the break-up with Percy. I couldn't tell my mother, and my dad was busy all week. And I couldn't even tell the baby's father.
I began to feel sorry for myself.
My life was completely ruined because of one mistake. I had a life planned out. I was going to finish school, get my dream job, and marry Percy someday. But I screwed that one up with this stupid mistake. I was irresponsible, and I was going to have to pay for it.
I began to feel sorry for Percy.
His life was pretty screwed up, too. We did this together. The baby was both of ours, and he probably wasn't going to meet it. He wouldn't know that today was the day I felt the first kick. He wouldn't even have a say in the child's name, not that I could think of one yet. That life we planned wasn't going to happen.
I felt sorry for our family and all of that when I finally reached the one person who deserved pity.
The baby.
It did nothing wrong. Its parents did. And it would pay for it. When I was a kid, I didn't do anything, and my dad treated me like it was all my fault. I had sworn for years that I wouldn't ever do that to my kids, but it seems like I lied. This poor little child was going to grow up with either not knowing their biological parents or having total losers for parents, well maybe not Percy but me. Its life would be better with some rich family who was unable to have their own children and would love it more than anything, which wasn't necessarily me.
As I thought about the baby, I shook my head.
I couldn't keep calling the baby 'it', not that I had brought the baby up a lot. But I needed to know what name to say when I complain "_, you better be worth all this hell I'm going through for you' and that is something I say a lot.
I tried to think of a name, but I didn't know if it was a boy or girl. So, if I called the baby Lisa and it was a boy, I was screwed. I was about to settle on Bailey when I remembered my Grandmother.
My dad eventually came to love me, but it wasn't too great at the beginning. He could kiss the top of my head and say he loved me, but I knew he wished I hadn't been born. My family was the same, but then my grandmother would come. I stayed with her a lot, and she and I would look out the window to the pretty cul-de-sac that my dad grew up in. I wanted more than anything to live like those people did. Their mom's would hand them their lunch boxes and kiss them goodbye for school. The dad's would come home from work and would smile a real smile. I wanted to be one of those kids, and I'd watch as they lived their lives, yearning that it was my life. My grandmother would see me and sit beside me. Sometimes she would hug me and sometimes we wouldn't say anything. But she made me feel like I was wanted. I was loved. I wasn't just some screw-up. I could tell her anything, and she would listen to every word, which my father never did.
"Sarah," I tried to smile at my stomach, but I felt tears coming on, "You're going to find someone who was just like the woman you're named after. She'll make those dejected feelings go away…"
I woke up, panting and about to cry.
But I knew it wasn't a dream. It was just my screwed-up past. I pulled myself up to where I was sitting up in bed, trying to not to think about.
Seven AM on a Monday morning.
Damn it.
I jumped out of bed, ignoring how it was so cold. I had spent years being able to get ready in a record ten minutes, not that I had used my tricks in months as I now had a reason to get up early. I was tightening my belt when the comforter shifted.
Damn it.
I had forgotten Percy was here. It was my week with Sarah, and he came over last night to help her with science (she's studying the ocean). It was almost midnight when Sarah finally gave up and went to bed. Now that I really think about it, I remember Percy saying he was sleeping over, but I was so tired that I couldn't really think and fell asleep almost immediately (I know. Tired at midnight? What the hell?)
I fixed my belt and reached down for a high heel.
Ares, please don't make me regret this.
I threw it at Percy with almost all of the strength I could manage in the morning, and it didn't hit him enough to hurt him, not that he would probably notice if it did. Sure, the Achilles heel was gone, but he was still tough as nails to my dismay.
"Did you just throw a shoe at me?"
"Get up."
"Good morning to you, too," Percy smirked.
I rolled my eyes as I reached for another pair of heels. I struggled to get into the shoe while standing up, but I managed to do it without tripping somehow. Being a guy, Percy was already dressed by the time I had my ponytail up.
"How the hell did you get ready so fast?" I complained as I crossed my arms over my white blouse. He had always been able to do that, even when we were kids. I remember I use to wake him up in his cabin and go down to my cabin to grab my lucky lighter (I don't even know why I always kept one on me since I didn't smoke or anything, but I still kept one on me). By the time I got back, he was completely dressed and tying his shoes.
"I'm not. I have to head home and get ready there," Percy didn't even look up as he spoke to me. Instead, he just strapped on his watch and checked with my alarm clock to see if the time was right, which it probably was.
"Right," I nodded, trying to get my head together.
"Want me to wake up Sarah?" he asked as he stood up, and I was quick to shake my head.
My mind became a little jumbled, just as it sometimes did when I was with Percy, and I tried to force my thoughts on the little time I had. But I couldn't. My mind was only on one thing, and he was standing directly in front of me.
"I got it. You better get going if you want to make it to work on time," I smiled weakly, feeling selfish that I really didn't want him to go.
"Mind if I pick up Sarah from Swim Class today? I'll come bring her home and maybe hang out for a while," Percy began to search the room for his jacket. It was that moment that my brain began to function again, and I remembered that I needed to find my purse.
Oh, and wake up my daughter.
Damn it.
How do I keep forgetting this?
"Oh sure," I pulled out my purse from the closet (why the hell was it in there?) and opened the bedroom door.
"I think I have a fever," Sarah pouted at the front door. I ignored the fact that she was already over here, and I knelt to be at her level. I pressed a hand to her small forehead, thinking about how my dad used to do this when I was a kid.
I was lucky to get into the 'Mom' thing fast enough to keep up with Sarah, but I still worried that I didn't have it all down and that it wouldn't be long until I screwed up big time. And I'm not talking 'Dating-Her-Swim-Coach-Who-Cheated-On-Me-And-Enraged-Me-To-Such-an-Extent-That-I-Had-To-Move-Her-To-the-Next-Grade-Level'. I'm talking 'Someone's-In-the-Hospital' bad.
Sarah's forehead was actually cold.
"Actually, you're freezing, Baby," I tried my hardest not to smirk, "Which means, you're going to school."
Percy:
I forced the key into the lock without taking notice of anything. I knew I was going to be late. It went without saying, but I could be less late. The morning went as it had for the last few weeks. When Sarah was at my place, Annabeth stayed over, and it was the same the other way. I planned on bringing up the option of just moving in together last night, but she felt asleep immediately. So, I was stuck bringing it up after I take Sarah home after school.
I would have been back at my apartment way earlier, but I just got caught up in the family thing. Sarah tried to fake being sick, which Annabeth saw through immediately. Honestly, I probably would have just let her stay home, but she's a daddy's girl. All she has to do is look at me with those big grey eyes, the same that Annabeth has, and I'm a total push over. But I didn't get a say. So, Sarah got ready. Annabeth tried to make toast, and I pulled it out because she was about to burn it. Finally, I was about to leave when Sarah got downstairs, and I just couldn't force myself to leave after that.
Time wouldn't allow me to get a shower, but I would have enough time to change and shave without missing my first meeting. I had hoped for time to prepare in my office for a little bit, but I could still handle it. I set the keys down on the table and threw off my coat. I was untying my tie as I went into my room.
"Percy."
I stopped at the doorway and felt my heart stop. My muscles paralyzed until I almost threw up onto the hardwood floors.
I knew that voice.
I knew it well.
I listened to that voice say 'I do' on our wedding day...
Calli.
Unwillingly, I wheeled around to where the voice came from.
Calli stood in the middle of the living room, holding up her keys. I remembered the day I gave her the lime green key chain because she kept losing her keys. Calli had gained a little weight, but it was only to be expected after having a baby. Her dark brown hair had been chopped off from the long way she usually kept it to where it went to her collar bone. Calli's brown eyes didn't remind me of a happy little girl in a chocolate factory like they usually did, but she reminded me of one of those women you hate instantly.
"You never changed the locks," Calli smiled slyly, and I clenched my fist so I wouldn't hit her, "So, Percy, where were you?"
She smiled like she was my friend, which she definitely wasn't. I knew I was supposed act like I wasn't seeing anyone or anything, but I really wanted to give her as much hell as she gave me, even though that was impossible.
"Slept over with my girlfriend."
Calli hid her surprise, if she had any.
"You have a girlfriend?"
"What are you doing here?" I crossed my arms, and Calli sighed.
"I miss you, Percy-Bear," Calli stared at me with the same look that used to make me a total push-over when she did it. 'Percy-Bear' had always made me mad, and it took away any feelings of love for Calli I might have still had.
"Should've thought about before you got pregnant with the Westchester guy you had been screwing behind my back."
"People make their mistakes. You got your college girlfriend pregnant. You have no right to get mad at me," Calli's eyes became so cruel that I wanted to throw up.
"I have no right to get mad at the woman who was supposed to love me for the rest of my life but ended up getting impregnated by some pompous ass in Westchester?"
"He's not a pompous ass," Calli was quick defended. I didn't know his name or anything. I had never wanted to know, but I suddenly wanted to know now.
"Then where is he. Skipped out on you for the next young woman ready to sleep with him?"
Calli looked up with either pain or anger, or she might have had both.
"He's dead," her jaw tightened, and I began to feel bad. Not for Calli, of course, but for that little girl who I thought was mine for all those months, Amanda. I didn't know what to say so I went back on something I should have said either.
"And, by the way, Sarah wasn't a mistake. She's the best thing I've ever done."
Calli quickly forgot her ex and father of her child to think of what I said. She didn't say anything, but her eyes were imploring me to tell her what had happened since she had left. It would be a long story, and I didn't want to have to get personal with her again. And this was nothing but personal.
"Sarah's adopted parents left in their will that her birthparents be tracked down," I was about to continue when Calli cut me off.
"Annabeth?"
I had tried never to bring up Annabeth in our relationship, but Annabeth had been a giant part of my life. I had to bring her up eventually, and I knew it would be best if she heard from me, not my family. So, I sat Calli down and told her everything. I told her how I met Annabeth, how we had been best friends, how we dated for six years, and I told her about why we ended. It was clear that I would never forgive Annabeth at that point, and Calli understood that.
I never would have imagined this all would happen back then.
The thought of me coming home late because I was staying with Annabeth, seeing my ex-wife Calli, and planning on picking up Sarah from school that afternoon would have been like a crazy dream.
"Yeah," I left out the part of how I was back with Annabeth. I still didn't want to bring up personal matters with her.
Calli began to breathe heavily from shock.
"Listen, the divorce papers are signed, and this is in my name. So, get out, Calli."
Calli looked up at me in surprise. I had never told her to leave like that. I had never really asked her to leave period. Calli being around me was like a necessity back then. Now, I needed her out before I had a heart attack from too much stress.
"Fine, but I'll be back," her voice was beyond serious, but I didn't give a damn. She could come back a million times and it wouldn't matter. I didn't love her anymore, even if she thought I did.
"Get out before I file a restraining order," I forced myself not to smirk, and Calli narrowed her eyes before picking up her purse that she had set down beside her. Calli stomped away in the same way she always had, and I began to realize just how annoying it actually was.
I followed her as she left and closed the door after her, sure to pull the bolt down and relocked the doors. I took a pen and sticky note from the table where I put the keys. I scribbled down in blue ink to call someone to change the locks.
This was kind of an introduction of Ex-Wife Drama. There will be more. Much more ;)
Annabeth:
I pulled out the key to Percy's apartment that I got when mutual custody was established. We were still in the adoption process as Renee was being a total bitch about it, and Sarah would be ours by Christmas we're told, which will be great since I'm supposed to be taking her to California for Christmas to meet my family.
The door was a little hard to push open, but I managed it somehow.
"Hello?" I called out, remembering that there were times where Percy would take Sarah out for ice cream, and they would stay there for hours. I first looked at the little table at the door.
Percy's keys were there, which meant he was also here. Beside it, a blue pad had the words "Get locks changed" that had been scribbled in Percy's terrible handwriting. I knit my eyebrows in confusion, wondering why he would want to change the locks.
"Hey, Mom. We're in the kitchen!" Sarah called out, and I heard the sound of Percy's shoes against the hardwood floors coming to the door. I picked up the blue sticky note to look at it a little bit closer.
"You're early," Percy smiled, and I held up the note as if it was a question.
"You're changing the locks?"
Percy's face froze, and I knew anything he said after that was going to be a lie. I knew him well enough to know that. I also knew that he probably had a good reason. Like how he didn't tell me that the weird can in his closet was bugs spray because he kept getting spiders a month ago.
"Yeah, I just feel like I should. Don't worry about it," Percy shrugged like it was nothing, and I tried to believe it. But I knew him too well.
"Right," I warily looked at him and back at the note.
"Hey," I tried to seem upbeat, and I set my bag down by the table, "Did you make it to work?"
Percy snapped out of his thoughts and looked at me, making my heart stop. Percy's dark green eyes were as beautiful as ever, and I loved how he was a good four inches or so taller than me. He had taken off his business suit jacket, and his top collar button was unbuttoned. The sleeves had been pushed up to his elbow, and I swear that there was icing on his wrist instead of the usual blue ink of a pen.
"Oh, I made it in time for my meeting, but I was supposed to be there earlier for work," Percy smiled brightly, happy to think I was done with this subject, not that I was or anything. Oh no way in Hades was I done. But I'd bring it up slowly. He wouldn't even realize it until I had already gotten my answer.
"Too bad," I set the sticky note down on the little table.
"It's time to put the new cookies in the oven!" Sarah called out again.
"You're baking?"
"She wanted to bake," Percy shrugged.
XXXXXX
I watched as Sarah worked on her Math homework.
We were still at Percy's. My stomach was full of sugar cookies that we spent an hour icing, and I was buzzed from all the carbs I had eaten, making me dread the imminent crash. Percy had sat down beside me on the couch from helping Sarah with her homework about five minutes ago.
It was seven, and I knew I needed to get Sarah home soon.
We ordered pizza, beef deep dish which was Sarah's favorite. Finally, Sarah 'suddenly' remembered that she had Math Homework, and Percy helped it with it for a little bit since I was banned from doing it. Apparently, without knowing it, I basically told her the answer. Percy told me that if he was around to help instead of me, he was helping until time saw fit against it, and that just pisses me off.
But I sat on the couch for that time, watching him help our six year old daughter with fractions. It was a little amusing, and it was most definitely worth an 'Aww' from how sweet it was. Of course, Percy finally came back to the couch, and Sarah stayed on the floor with "Fanboy and Chum Chum"
playing in the background.
"So, Annabeth," Percy began, snapping my out of my 'Sarah-Related' thoughts.
I smiled as I let the taste of vodka run over my tongue like the lake water lapping against the shore at camp. I watched out of the corner of my eye as the moon shone over the lake like a beacon of hope for those downtrodden, not that I was one of those. In fact, I couldn't remember the same peacefulness in months. It was Grover's birthday, something we were sure to celebrate each year. It just so happened that Juniper had a cold that day and was confined to the infirmary. Being the sweetheart Grover is, he spent the day with her, but we had him for the night.
But he didn't want to sneak out of camp to go to a club. None of us did. So, we grabbed a few bottles of random drinks and went to the beach. No one was around. So, we could just drink until we wanted to pass out.
I handed the bottle of Svedka to Percy, who had his back against the water, and Grover drank a can of beer. Percy, who didn't really like beer that much, drank out of the Svedka without hesitation. I couldn't think of a time I had been so attracted to him as when I saw him drink the bottle in the perfect moonlight. I was biting my lip when Percy spoke.
"A toast to Grover, the best friend we could ask for," Percy raised up his bottle, and I took a bottle of Tequila from the sand to toast with the two boys. We all drank from our bottles, even though we all knew we should really slow down. We didn't give a damn though. We deserved it.
After all of those god awful years we put up for those damn gods, we might as well get a nice night of drinking by a beach.
"So, Annabeth," Grover started with a mischievous smile, "Found this is in Percy's cabin. Maybe I should take it to Chiron? Don't you think he'd just love this?"
Grover set my birth control box onto the sand with a smirk, and I snapped it up immediately.
"If you value life at all, I would suggest shutting up," I glared at him, and fear registered in his brown eyes.
"Could be worse," Percy shrugged, taking another gulp of Svedka.
I raised my eyebrow for him to continue.
"Chiron could have been the one to find it."
"I was thinking about how mornings are such a hassle now because I keep sleeping over at your place," Percy's voice snapped me out of my memories.
"I really am sorry about you being late this morning."
"It's nothing, Annabeth, but things are tricky for you, too. If Sarah's with me for the week, you're over here, and vise versa. I was thinking that we should…" Percy stopped, trying to find the words, but I knew exactly what I was going to say.
"It hasn't been long. I don't want to screw things up, Percy," I interjected, but Percy wasn't fazed, probably knowing I would say that.
"Annabeth, we pick our stuff up every week and go to the other's apartment. We're basically living together now. This would just made it official," Percy tried, and I sighed, knowing I was going to give in.
He was right.
Oh my gods, did I just say Percy was right?
I looked into his eyes, trying to think of an excuse not to, but I couldn't think of something. This would be best for Sarah, which was our top priority, and it would be best for us, too. But I had never lived with Percy.
I dated him.
I almost died with him.
I saved his life.
I fell in love with him.
I had a child with him.
I broke up with him.
I got back with him.
I planned on adopting our daughter with him.
But living with him was new territory, which I didn't like. There are some things you can risk, like wearing something new or trying a new style of fighting. But taking a risk with my relationship with Percy, and Sarah's happiness, was like do or die. The cost was too high on both sides.
"Sarah would have to be okay with it."
Yeah, I caved.
It happens to the best of us, I guess. Percy may be a Seaweed Brain, but he had the facts right. We basically were living together, and this must be hard for our daughter. There wasn't much of a reason not to other than my lack of courage in the matter, and I wasn't going to bring that up.
"You and I both know she'll love it."
"Well then," I faux-smiled, "I guess we're moving in together."
Percy kissed me, and I started to think I made the right move. I could handle it, right? I loved him and all, but we've always had the freedom to leave when we wanted to, not that we really ever did it. We wouldn't with this arrangement, and I couldn't handle losing Percy again.
I was about to whisper "I love you" when I heard the voice of a six year old little girl.
"Daddy, I need help with number fifteen."