Annabeth:
I stared ahead at mother while she sipped at Jasmine tea across the bistro table.
It was her favorite, near the empire state building but still not crowded. The tea was exceptional, while the coffee sucked. It was quiet here, especially for New York. I used to meet her just about every day here while I was working on Olympus. It had been one of the first times I had ever seen her smile, or laugh.
Athena was dressed like I had expected her to. It was one of those days where she was popping in on one of the companies she basiCalli ran, and she dressed the part. Her usually blonde hair was auburn and tied up in a professional bun. Her always-grey eyes were polite but fixed on a plan. Though it was a cold fall, she was tanned like it was summer in the Hamptons. As usual, her beauty was exceptional and made me feel self-conscious.
"How's Sarah?"
This was the first time we had really spoken since the little incident where Sarah found out about who were grandparents really were. She and Poseidon explained it, and they did well. After a while, it came for her to go, and she pulled me aside, explaining that she still disapproved of Percy and she thought it would be best if I ended it with Percy now before it got to serious. I disagreed, and that was it.
"She's good. Still mad at her father about missing Thanksgiving," I instantly regretted saying that.
"He missed Thanksgiving?" Athena asked, but it didn't seem like a judgment surprisingly.
"Uh, yeah, his mother, Sally, got sick, and he had to miss coming to California with us. But it was probably better that way. Mattie and Bobby don't really get along with Percy," I sipped at the tea.
"Speaking of brothers, have you spoken to Malcolm recently?" Athena asked eagerly, and I suddenly felt sorry for her. I was the kid she saw most, and that was because she was trying to get me away from a man she deeply disapproved of.
"No, his wife is just getting back into work, and everything is so hectic that I'd be shocked if I saw him by Kevin's first birthday," I smiled weakly, wishing I could have had those hectic first years with Sarah.
"He's a good boy," Athena's eyes seemed to search mine for something, but I didn't know what she wanted.
Over the years, the Athena cabin had become smaller and smaller. Some said that after she had seen what I had done, she didn't want to take the chance of her child falling for a descendant of Poseidon. Some said rebuilding Olympus took too much time. But I had always thought that she realized how much she didn't know her kids and wanted to make it right, or at least she was trying to make our relationship right.
An awkward silence joined our table.
"Aphrodite's happy, you know."
I looked up at my mother, not sure if I had heard her right.
"She's in a good mood after you and Percy got together. Hephaestus even went as far as to thank Poseidon and me for having you two. Aphrodite hasn't been this happy since she started her affair with Ares."
I wanted to add that it couldn't have been hard to make her happier than spending time with Ares, but I bit my tongue.
"You seem pretty happy, too," Athena's smile was weak but definitely motherly.
She was right. I couldn't remember a time when I was happier. I had a beautiful young daughter who seemed to be smarter than me at times. And I had Percy, and, for the very first time in our relationship, there is no god trying to kill him, no evil exes trying to destroy the world, no wars to fight (at least not for us), and no kidnapping.
There is an evil ex though, but I changed the locks last week. So, I'm in the clear for a while.
"Tell me the truth Annabeth. How is he? I mean, is he good to you or Sarah?"
"He's great. I know you still see him as that idiot jumping off buildings and killing monsters, but he's grown up."
Okay, so it was a little bit of a lie. He didn't jump of buildings anymore, Thank God!, but I wouldn't go straight to grown up. He still loved Fanboy and Chum Chum, and he liked Perry the Platypus more than our child. And he could still most monsters, even if they were no danger at all.
But I wasn't going to tell her that.
"That's good," Athena smiled a little wider this time and sipped at her tea, "I don't like him in any way, but you can tell him I give him my approval."
I stared at her, not sure if I had heard her right.
"Your approval?"
"Well, I guess you could be with worse. He treats you and your daughter well, and you love him," Athena shrugged with defeat, "But-"
I hated when she said but.
"If he hurts your or Sarah in any way," Athena's eyes became dangerous, "his life span will be shorted considerably."
Athena stood, and I stood to say goodbye.
"Goodbye, Darling," she kissed both of my cheeks like she hadn't just threated my boyfriend's life only moments before. She picked up her briefcase and started to walk away, but she paused and turned around.
"Oh, and please don't have any more children out of wedlock. It's making me look bad."
I smiled and nodded, and she took that as an agreement and she left.
Percy:
"So, your mom is okay with us?" I smiled as I signed another thing for work and pushed it to the top of the desk.
"Well, techniCalli," I didn't like how Annabeth's voice sounded over the phone, but it was better than not talking to her at all.
"She said she's happy that I'm happy and that Sarah is happy. But she said she still didn't like you, and she still hopes that I leave you. She said I could be worse off though as you don't hurt me or Sarah. But, if you do, she has made it clear that she'd kill you."
Don't you just love Athena?
"I just love your mother, Annabeth," I sarcastiCalli grinned, and Annabeth laughed for a moment before gasping.
"Shouldn't you be singing the deal with Calli?"
"I'm leaving now. But how did that suddenly come to mind?" I asked while grabbing my keys and cell phone from a drawer. I smiled at the picture of Annabeth and me when we were fifteen that I had kept in my desk for the last four years.
"We were talking about bitchy mothers. What's not to get?" Annabeth asked, and I knew she was smiling ear-to-ear.
I had to agree that Calli was a bitch. I had married her, meaning I knew first hand. But I had somehow learned to forgive the cold-hearted slut, even if I did call her all of those names. Annabeth never would though, or at least I didn't think she would. It wasn't in her nature to forgive someone after all of that happened.
But, then again, she had forgiven me somehow.
"Nice one, Annabeth. Before I go, are you picking up Sarah or am I?" I got up from the chair, but I was still stuck there because of the phone.
"Neither. She's spending the weekend with Sally, remember?" Annabeth sounded distracted, probably working.
"So, it's just us this weekend?"
I could hear the voice of Annabeth's assistant, a voice I had to hear lots of time when I tried to call Annabeth but she was in a meeting. Annabeth moved the mouthpiece and replied something hurriedly before coming back to the phone.
"I also told you that Malcolm needs us to babysit Steven from today to Sunday."
"Why?" I asked as I tried to remember when this conversation where we talked about all of this happened.
"I don't remember, but I think it was something about a wedding. Or maybe they just needed time together? Or was it…?" Annabeth would have continued for hours if I didn't cut her off.
"Got it. Watching Steven for the weekend while Sarah's with Mom. I better get going," I quickly added, and Annabeth seemed to snap out of the trance.
"See you at home."
XXXXXX
It took me about ten minutes to get to my old apartment building. It felt weird to have Calli living here without me, but I was getting used to the idea. This was the place we bought with Amanda in mind, even if I was sure that little baby would be mine.
I knew the route to my apartment by heart, and I earned a wave from the concierge, who had been best friends with my ex-wife before Calli and I got divorced. The elevator ride to my floor was alone and quiet, and I took that time to find the paperwork from my briefcase and get out my keys.
I was surprised to find the front door unlocked, as Calli was kind of a freak about locking doors, but I came straight in anyway.
"Calli?"
I waited a moment or two before I got a response.
"In the kitchen!"
I followed the voice to the large kitchen that Calli had basiCalli decided to buy the apartment over. I found boxes everywhere, and Calli was organizing spices, being the perfectionist she was. I didn't like how she was wearing an old NYU sweatshirt of mine, but I didn't say anything about it. Actually, I couldn't speak.
Amanda.
It was the first time I had ever seen the baby, and she was beautiful. She had bubbly blonde curls, and her light brown eyes watched her mother with interest. Other than those two features, she looked exactly like her mother. For a moment, I felt like I knew the child, or at least maybe I knew who the father was. But I couldn't get a name. Just the thought that I knew him somehow.
"Oh, I forgot," Calli turned around to look at me, "You've never met Amanda."
I stopped staring at the baby to look at Calli.
"Uh, we better sign the papers," I held up the paperwork and tries desperately not to look back at Amanda.
"Right," Calli reached for a pen from a clay coffee mug that I remembered her nephew, Robin, making for her birthday a few years ago.
I closed the distance between us and set the paperwork down infront of the two of us. I walked her through it all, saying how much the rent was, and pointing out a small clause I had specially asked for that claimed we would pick up the rent instead of her possibly breaking into our apartment again. She glared at me but signed the paper just like I did.
"Did you ask for that or did Annabeth?" Calli crossed her arms, still glaring at me.
"It was a mutual agreement," I lied. It had been Annabeth's idea to put that in there, as the thought that she could suddenly show up scared the hell out of her. She said it was about Sarah, but I knew it was really because she was scared.
"Sure it was, Percy," Calli complained as she capped the pen and put it in the mug.
I paused for a moment.
"How's Robin?" I finally asked, not taking my eyes off the mug.
Robin had been four when I married Calli. He was a cute little kid, with the same big brown eyes the Potter's were known for. He took an instant liking to me, and I liked him, too. He used to ask all the time when Calli and I were going to have a little boy that he could play with, and he was the reason I started really wanting kids.
Calli looked at me with sadness, thinking the same things I was thinking of.
"He misses you a lot. He asks a lot where you went and why we didn't have that little baby you said we'd have. My sisters a little mad about it actually. She says me screwing around didn't just affect my life but everyone else's."
"That's Dakota for you, always bringing the downside," I smiled weakly, but the truth was that I agreed with Dakota, just like I usually did.
"She's right, isn't she?" Calli asked like it pained her to ask, and I nodded yes. She shook her head, like she already had known the answer.
Calli paused again.
"Are you happier with her? Annabeth, I mean?" Calli asked, and I knew that I wasn't supposed to lie.
"I think so. Things are very different, but I'm happier."
"I guess I should give up, huh?" Calli put her head in her hands, which I knew meant she was about to cry. But I didn't know what to do this time, "I…I loved him, Percy. And we were always so busy, and we were trying for a baby. And he just smiled at me, and there were all these pretty girls and he chose me. He liked me. He thought I was brilliant, and he said he'd leave his wife as soon as their daughter was old enough to handle it. And I told him about Amanda and how she was his, and… he was going to tell his wife. He promised me that. We were going to move to my house in Westchester and raise Amanda…"
She grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes.
"Be happy, Percy," she smiled weakly, her upper lip trembling, and I knew she wanted me to go.
"I'll talk to you on Monday when the deal goes through."
She nodded, and I left, taking one last glance at Amanda.
Annabeth:
I stared at Steven in front of me. Malcolm had dropped him off an hour ago, handing me the instructions to taking care of him and a key to his apartment if I needed to go over there and get something.
"Steven, now where do you think your Uncle Percy is?" I pouted as I continued to stare at the baby. He was a quiet baby, and he just kept playing with the blocks in front of him. I half-expected him to stand up and give me a speech about how I should stop worrying, but I mainly expected him to just keep playing with the toy, which he did.
I stood up from the floor, mainly for the sake of my fleeting sanity, and went back to my cell phone.
In the last two hours, I had received five messages. The first was Sarah calling to say that everything was fine at Sally's place. The second was Rachael complaining about how I had barely talked to her in the last few months. The third and fifth were both from Steven's mom, checking on him. And the fourth was Percy sending me a quick message about how he would be a little late.
I was on the verge of sending a text to Percy, asking how long "a little late" really was, when the front door opened.
"Sorry, work ran late," Percy barely even glanced at me. Instead, he went straight for three month old Steven. He picked up Steven and hugged him.
"Isn't he just adorable?" Percy smiled at Steven, and Steven giggled in response.
I knew Percy wanted a baby. It was as obvious as saying Aphrodite wanted make-up or a new Chanel dress. Percy always wanted a baby, even back when the idea of raising Sarah scared the hell out of me. And it seemed to get stronger and stronger as time went by, until the point where he notices every baby in sight.
I stared at Percy playing with the baby, not sure if I should 'Awww' or laugh.
Finally, before I could decide on if I should laugh or not, Percy set the baby down on the floor, and Steven went right back to playing with the toy in front of him. Percy smiled and came up to me.
"And isn't his Aunt looking particularly beautiful today," he kissed me, and I decided not to bring up how late he was for a more important question.
"How'd it go with Calli?" I straightened Percy's tie, and he paused.
"It happened," he shrugged and kissed the top of my head again before going back to the little baby Steven.
"And?" I followed after him and sat on the couch while he played with Steven.
"You know," he shrugged again and continued to stare at the baby, who was playing with a fire-truck toy.
I hated when Percy did this, avoiding all of those questions I kept asking. He always did though, and it annoyed every ounce of my body. When I was younger, I even asked Sally if he only did it to me, and she laughed while telling me he had been doing that since the day he first started talking.
"I know what?"
Percy shook his head, smiling, and picked up the baby. He sat down beside me, and Steven giggled merrily at Percy. I continued to stare at him for an explanation.
"I saw Amanda for the first time today," Percy looked at me, and my gaze softened.
"Oh…are you okay, Percy?" I bit my lip, not sure exactly what to say but finally seeing why he kept playing with the baby.
"Yeah, I guess. Calli wasn't though. I asked her about her nephew, Robin, and she told me this whole thing about how he missed me and how her sister is mad at her for cheating on me and all. And, then she started crying and asking me if I was happy with you. And then she started trying to explain what happened. Like how she felt so special that Amanda's father chose her, and how they were going to work everything out with Amanda, and she trialed off when she was about to tell me how he died," Percy shook his head, and I stared at him, not sure how to compute all of this.
"Amanda's dad is dead?"
Percy nodded.
"A month before Amanda was born, or something."
"Holy Crap," I shook my head, actually feeling sorry for Calli, which I thought would never happen.
"Yeah, she then asked if I was happier with you, or something," Percy shrugged like it was nothing as he ruffled Steven's black hair, which he had inherited from his Italian mother.
I looked at him, wondering why the hell he just stopped with that. He didn't seem to notice how I was nervously staring at him, but that was just Percy. For a moment, I didn't want to ask if he was. I didn't want to hear him break it to me that he was happier with his syco-ex-wife.
"Are you?"
"Hmm?" Percy stared at me.
"Are you…happier?" I crossed my arms, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"You're kidding, right?" he raised a questioning eyebrow, and I raised both of my eyebrows for him to continue.
"Quick question. Who is stalking me and who is sitting on the couch beside me in our apartment?"
"No, I mean, before Amanda. Before she started cheating. Before all that. Were you happier then than you are now?" I uncrossed my arms and got closer to him, searching his sea green eyes for the real answer. He could tell me anything with his mouth, but his eyes never lied to me.
"I think you're leaving out some things, Annabeth. I didn't know my daughter. My camp life was shattered because our mutual friends had to pick sides when we broke up. And most chose you. The girl, who I had not only loved but had been best friends with, probably would have thrown something at me if I happened to run into her on the street, but I was given a constant reminder of her whenever I saw the ad for her company on my way to work."
I blushed at Malcolm's constant advertising.
"And I knew when I walked down the aisle and said I do that she would choose her job over me in an instant. Even though I told myself, she would learn to put me first, I knew she shouldn't have to learn to put me first. Oh, and I wanted kids so badly and she wanted to focus on her career."
I stared at him for a minute, not sure how to respond.
"Wow, that's a lot," I paused before adding comic relief to the conversation about a torturous marriage, "I would have only thrown something at you if you came to my office. I would have just turned around and stomped away if I saw you on the street."
Percy grinned.
XXXXXXX
Malcolm and Katie weren't lying when they told me Steven was a good baby. If anything, he was an excellent baby. But babies are still human. And the baby soon shoes its human side.
It was nice taking care of Steven, now that Sarah didn't seem to need me too much these days. It was even better to sit there and watch Percy make those little faces and tell baby rhymes as he fed Steven. And I felt my heart melt as I watched Percy play with baby Steven.
But slowly by slowly as the clock ticked down, it became less cute and more person. By the time it was time to go to sleep, Percy and I fell asleep as soon as we hit the mattress. And we prayed that the Steven would stay calm in the little guest room I had all set up for him. Percy was even nice enough to bring extra trinkets from his home to him, just so he would stay asleep. And little baby Steven did. He stayed asleep for three hours until at two AM we heard him squeal. Percy and I disagreed on who should get him, and I lost since he was my nephew. An hour later, just as I was getting back into deep sleep, he cried again. Percy got him, but, yet an hour later, the baby howled up a storm.
"Your turn," Percy moaned, and I stirred, still asleep. I scooted closer and clung onto him.
"Please, Percy, please," I pleaded, not even opening my eyes.
"Fine," Percy moaned again and pushed me off of him. I slid back into my spot and nuzzled into my comfortable pillow. I saw the light of the door opening, and a shadow of a 6'3 man left the door. I smiled to myself and shut my eyes tighter.
The crying stopped, and I was falling asleep again when the shadow reappeared. Then I heard a baby's yawn.
I sat up in bed and groggily looked at Percy, who was cradling Steven in his arms. He came to the bed and picked up a pillow from the floor. He set it in-between where Percy slept and me. He quickly made a little barrier around the pillow and set Steven down.
"This should be easier," Percy slid into bed and fell asleep before I could comment.
XXXXXXXX
The sun peered into the room, and my eyes fluttered open.
I first saw Steven, who was cuddling a baby blue blanket I had given his mother at her baby shower. His grey eyes were hidden because he was sleeping, and I could hear his small breaths. It was amazing to think how he went from that little demon last night to an angel this morning.
"I think I figured out why babies are so cute."
I looked up to see that Percy was propped up on his arm and looking at Steven and me.
"Why is it?" I smiled at Percy, trying to enjoy this little family moment going on.
"It's to make up for the screaming and annoying things they do. It works on the guy, but the girl does have to go through labor. So what's your input?"
"I had a bad fall and had to get an early C-Section. So, I don't know about the labor thing," I shrugged, knowing Katie complained about it all the time, "But the nine months are hell."
Percy nodded with a smile.
I glanced at the bulky alarm clock over Percy's shoulder and read the time.
10:03 AM.
"How long have you been up?" I blinked my eyes open again, trying not to fall asleep again.
"Well, Steven woke up two hours ago. I fed him, and he went right back to sleep. I guess I woke up again about fifteen minutes ago," Percy shrugged as he shifted Steven's blanket to cover his little feet.
"He almost makes you want to have a baby, huh?" he ruffled Steven's hair.
"Almost," I smirked, "If I remember correctly, you took Steven crying the worst."
"Still," he smiled down at Steven, and I just watched Percy.
"You really want a baby, huh?" I sat up, smiling.
"What?" he knit his eyebrows in confusion.
"Oh come on. You bring up kids, like all the time."
"You're aware we have a seven year old daughter, right?"
"Well, yeah, but you point out babies like every two seconds."
"I do not," Percy crossed his arms.
"Yes, you do," I laughed. Percy paused before finally responding.
"All right, fine. I want a baby. What does it matter?" he laughed.
"I just want to know why. I mean, monsters stalk us twenty-four-seven. And both of us have high-up, busy jobs. And we have a busy seven year old. Most people in the situation feel the opposite about having a baby," I shrugged.
"I don't know. I just do. Why do you care so much?" he shrugged, almost blushing.
"I don't know. It's kinda sweet, I guess," I smiled, and Percy opened his mouth to respond when Steven woke up.
I can't find the name for Malcolm's wife, if I even named her.