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Annabeth arrived to work early the next day, her back aching from sleeping in her car. She promised herself as her back throbbed that she'd at least stay the night in a cheap motel or something. She was embarrassed to sleep in her car but she had no other options.

The work uniform was just a light blue shirt with khakis. Annabeth paired her Chuck Taylors with it because the only other shoes she had were sandals and high heels.

She stood off to the side, uncertain who to speak to or how to start. Her curly blond hair was a bit greasy, but she pulled it back into a pony tail, deciding it was the best she could do. Yes, a motel was definitely necessary.

Annabeth spotted Percy moving toward the kitchen with a child trailing behind him. Annabeth almost tagged along, but she decided to wait until he noticed her. She didn't want to distract him. The little girl was wearing a soft pink tutu, a striped shirt, and butterfly wings on her back. Her black hair was pulled back in a small ponytail, but Annabeth could still tell it was messy. She was holding one of the cook's spoons as she trailed behind Percy who was walking between customers and the kitchen.

"Daddy!" the little girl said, waving the spoon around like a weapon. "You're not saying it right! Try again!"

Percy smiled as he handed a woman her milkshake and almost ran into the girl as he turned. He caught himself and began walking towards the counter. "Okay," he said, rubbing his hands together, "repeat it just one more time and I promise I'll get it right."

"Okay! Say, 'I, King of the Food, grant you, Princess Lillian, access to all the toys in the land!'"

"Alright. I, King of the Food-hi, how is everything going? Good? That's great-uh, grant you, Princess Lillian, access to all the dolls in the land," Percy said, ducking underneath a tray full of food as a waiter passed by.

"No!" Lillian said, clearly exasperated. She was obviously getting tired of Percy's incorrectness. "Daddy, you said it wrong again! Do it again!"

Percy suddenly turned and lifted the little girl. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, the spoon hitting the back of his head. "How about we meet a new friend instead? Then I can grant you anything you want, okay?"

"Okay!"

Annabeth blinked in surprise as she saw Percy making his way toward her and she realized the friend he was talking about was her. He was wearing a dark blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows and nice beige pants.

"Morning, Annabeth. I didn't expect you quite this early."

Annabeth blushed and cleared her throat. "Yes, sorry. I just thought I'd come in early."

Percy nodded, and then he lifted the arm that Lillian was sitting on. "This is my daughter, Lilly. She comes to work with me every day, so you'll probably see her around a lot. Lilly, this is Annabeth. She's going to start working here."

Lilly unwrapped her hands from around Percy's neck and clapped excitedly. "Yay! I like your hair. It's pretty."

Annabeth smiled, getting over the shock that Percy had a daughter. She glanced at his hands and noticed he wasn't wearing a ring. She quickly pushed away her curiosity, and brushed her bangs behind her ear. "That's nice, thank you. I like your tutu."

"Daddy lets me wear what I want," Lilly said, nodding enthusiastically. Percy smiled sheepishly, shifting Lilly into his other arm.

"Why don't you see if Travis and Connor will grant you all the toys? And a few fries, too," Percy suggested, bending a little to set her down. She waved her spoon around and stood on the tiptoes of her sparkly red flats.

"You need to practice your King skills, Daddy. Travis and Connor always remember it, even when they're busy cooking!"

Percy held a hand to his chest in false offence. "I take pride in my King skills!"

Lilly scowled up at him and he laughed, shaking his head. "Go on. I'll be back there in a little while, okay? Just don't get to close to the fryers, or ovens, or stoves!" he called after her, but she already disappeared behind the counter. Percy turned back to Annabeth and smiled slightly, adjusting his sleeves.

"Sorry about that. She's starting school in a few months and since I'm always at work, I don't like to miss out hanging out with her. She loves it here, and all the workers love her, so I just thought I'd bring her here instead of hiring a babysitter."

Annabeth nodded, wondering why Percy was telling her this, but she didn't ask him.

"I guess I'll train you today since everybody is really busy."

"Okay."

Percy showed Annabeth how to work the cash register, and put orders in. He showed her how to clean the tables and where all the mops and brooms were in case someone had a spill. Annabeth surprised Percy by getting orders right on the first time and putting them in without trouble.

"You're good at this, aren't you?" he asked, his smile lopsided. Annabeth smiled slightly, running her fingers down her ponytail as she wrote down a man's order.

"Maybe," she replied quietly. In high school, she took up a job at a large, chain restaurant and that's where she met him. Her husband. Annabeth's eyes flickered to her ring still on her finger and a wave of disgust crashed over her. She forgot to take it off. She silently reminded herself to get a map and see if there were any pawn shops around. Annabeth slid the ring off and slipped it into her pocket when Percy was distracted.

"Percy?" Annabeth asked when she was able to take a break. He paused in the middle of walking a spun around. "I just wanted to thank you for hiring me. I really needed this job."

He gave her a smile that made her wonder if he ever worried about anything and said, "No problem."

Sitting in her car after her shirt, Annabeth's memories began to flood her mind. She tried to block them out, to put up some defenses against them, but they broke through her barrier and crashed against her skull. She squeezed her eyes shut as she began remembering the day before she left.

Annabeth quickly began to cook the sauce for the spaghetti as she heard the front door slam shut. She closed her eyes, praying he would be in a good mood today. Her husband came into the kitchen, frowning, and he set his briefcase on the table with an audible bang. Annabeth flinched on instinct. He came up behind her, his hands sliding over her hips and thighs. It took every bit of her will to not flinch.

"What's for dinner?" he asked, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"I'm making spaghetti for you, baby," Annabeth answered, making her voice as happy and cheerful as she could.

"Spaghetti?" he asked. Annabeth knew this was one of those questions that if she answered it wrong it would result in a hit. She racked her brain, trying to remember if there was anything wrong with spaghetti, but she came up empty handed.

"Yes. I know you love it," she tried.

"Good," he murmured, kissing her neck. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the sensation of his lips on her skin because it disgusted her. But she had to act like it didn't. "I'm going to change. I'll be right back," he said. On his way up the stairs he grabbed three beers and she knew they would be drained by the time he came back down.

A few minutes later, he yelled her name so loud that she dropped the spoon she was stirring the sauce with and it clattered against the floor, sending little flecks of red sauce everywhere. She tried to slow her hammering heart as she left the mess and climbed the stairs to their bedroom. She opened the door and saw him facing her, his hand held out to a pile of Annabeth's clothes on the floor.

"What the hell is this?" he shouted, his face red with anger. Annabeth sucked in a breath and moved forward nonchalantly, bending to pick up her pajamas she changed out of earlier.

"Oh, I must've forgotten. I changed earlier and forgot to put them in the hamper. I'm sorry, I'll do it now."

When she turned to leave, he lashed out and grabbed her ponytail and pulled hard. Annabeth stumbled backward, dropping the clothes and yelping in surprise.

"You're such a selfish bitch! I go to work all day long and all I ask you to do keep the house clean and make me dinner and you can't even do that?"

"I'm sorry!" Annabeth cries. He doesn't even seem to hear her as he shoves her to the ground and punches her stomach hard. She screams involuntarily and he slaps her until she's gasping for air. He grabs her hair again and slams her head against the hardwood floor. Spots dance across her vision and her stomach clenches, ready to spill everything inside of it. She stops herself from throwing up because she knows if she even gets a droplet on him, she'll pay for it for days.

"You're a worthless piece of shit," he spits before he storms out and slams the door shut hard, causing Annabeth's head to pound even harder. She takes her time trying to get up, her ribs aching and the world spinning. When she's fully up, she rushes into the bathroom to vomit. The tears don't come and she's thankful. It makes him angry when she cries. She takes one last deep breath and heads back downstairs, swearing to herself that was the last time.

"Annabeth!"

Annabeth's knees slam hard into her wheel as she jumps, scared and surprised that someone was knocking on her window. Through her window she can see Percy staring at her with Lilly perched on his hip. She rolled her window down, surprised Percy was even in the parking lot.

"You've been sitting here a while, are you okay?"

Annabeth cleared her throat, wondering if Percy would see through her. He had those kind of eyes that looked like he knew everything.

"I'm fine."

"Good. Since I didn't get to interview you or anything, I was wondering if you would like to join Lilly and I for dinner?"

Annabeth looked at him curiously. She barely knew the man for twenty-four hours and he asked her to go out to dinner with him and his daughter? Annabeth assumed Percy was insane. Plus, she had to save her money for a place to stay.

"No, it's okay. I've got to save my money. But thank-"

"It's on me," Percy blurted, flashing her his smile again. It took her a few minutes to think, but as soon as Lilly said, "Please! Pretty please with ice cream and sugar and cherries on top," she was sold.

"I guess."

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