Unfathomable: Chapter 3 – Sally

A/N: Hello. Not much to say so… Here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO.

Hope you enjoy!

~oOo~

"Oof. My, baby, you are certainly a strong one."

Sally gently touched her bloated belly where her baby had just placed a powerful kick. He was rather restless in there, which was understandable – at eight months old, he couldn't have much room in there.

"Please settle down, just for a little while."

Sally was sitting on the couch, drinking some warm tea and flipping through a baby name book. She only had a few weeks left until she had to name the baby, but she hadn't found anything suitable yet.

"Maybe George," she mused. "Though I'm not sure I like that… 'George Jackson', it just doesn't feel right. Too much of that 'j' sound."

For the past eight months, Sally rushed to make preparations. She appreciated Poseidon's gift of the seashell to offer protection, but she would've liked something more… Immediately useful, like perhaps a few thousand dollars to spend on supplies. Her apartment was small and she made very little money. She had to browse thrift shops for the necessities, like clothes and blankets. She wasn't sure how to get her hands on a crib or stroller. Hopefully, her baby would be willing to nurse, because buying bottles and formula would get expensive. Sally was saving up the money she could. She decided that she would only spend money on absolute necessities for herself and her baby, like food she would eat and diapers for her baby. She forbade herself from making any completely unimportant expense. That still didn't leave her much to work with. And what was she going to do about childcare?

Sally started to get overwhelmed, but a strong kick to her abdomen brought her out of her thoughts.

"You're right, baby. I should relax and take a breath. Everything will work out. I can figure out what to do tomorrow, when I've had some sleep. Tonight, I will let myself be happy and excited, and finally pick a name for you. For now, though, I think I'll just call you 'Baby'."

Baby kicked a few times in approval.

…

"Well, Sally, everything seems to be going just fine. Do you have any questions?"

Sally's doctor was a sweet woman. She had helped Sally through the whole process. Maybe she could help with one last problem.

"I… Um, I was wondering if maybe you knew where I could get a crib. I don't have a lot of money, and no family to help me."

Sally tried to sound casual, but she felt the heat rising in her cheeks.

"Oh… Sorry, dear, I wouldn't know of any places making donations."

Sally's heart sank.

"But I can help. I have some baby supplies in my attic, clothes I never put on Tim, still brand new with the tags and everything. We still have his crib and stroller, and we are certain we won't b needing them. I would be more than happy to hand them over."

"Oh, thank you, so much. Are you sure?"

The doctor smiled. "It's not a problem. Not at all. I'll have it for you at your next appointment."

Sally was getting ready to leave when the doctor called out one last time.

"Have you named him yet?"

"Oh, not yet. For now, I'm just calling Baby."

…

Two weeks later

Labor Day was approaching fast, and not the memorial one. Sally knew her baby would be born soon, and she still didn't have a name.

She drove down to the beach. Maybe she'd get some inspiration. After all, her baby's dad was the god of the sea. Maybe she could name him something like… Ocean-y.

That was terrible.

"You know, if you were a girl, I'd already have a name. I could name you 'Ariel' or 'Coral' or 'Pearl'. But I suppose that isn't your fault."

Sally wandered around the beach, looking for sources of baby names.

"Rock… Rocky? No. Seashell…. Seashell-y? Nope."

Well, this is stupid, she thought. Apparently, though, she was taking a liking to those y-ending names. Hmm…

"Seaweed-y? Gods, that's the worst one yet! No one would call him a name with 'seaweed' in it! He'll never have friends, or a girlfriend!"

Sally decided to switch back to actual names. He didn't have to have a sea-related name. If Poseidon wasn't going to help pick out names by writing it out in the sand with shells or something, (which she was actually half-expecting to happen) then he couldn't get upset with whatever she selected.

"Maybe something like… Pedro. Or Peter. Peter Jackson. No, not that. Maybe if his last name was something like 'Johnson'. 'Peter Johnson', that sounds okay." But she needed something to go with 'Jackson'. Something catchy. He would be a hero, after all. He needed a heroic name, and Peter Johnson/Jackson didn't cut it.

Sally sat down on a towel and continued to ponder names in her head. She looked back out on the shoreline, hoping for ideas from Poseidon, but found only a book.

Wait, what?

The book turned out to be a collection of Greek myths. Perhaps Poseidon wanted her to look through it, do some research, read up on the kind of lifestyle her son would have. It wasn't any help with the names, but it was a good way to take a break. Sally settled down and began to read.

…

Two hours later, Sally's head was spinning with thoughts. She still didn't have a name, but she did have butterflies in her stomach. Demigod life was dangerous. She wasn't so sure she wanted her son to live that way, but she also didn't have a choice.

Sally would just have to be patient and understanding with her son. He would be put through tests and go on dangerous adventures, and she couldn't interfere with his fate. She would have to learn to step back and let him figure things out for himself.

That meant no overprotection, no holding him back, and especially, and most upsetting, letting him go. He needed to find his own way, and a part of that was sending him to that camp.

But, Sally thought, that won't be for at least a few years. In those first years, he will need mothering and protecting, like any other baby.

She would savor those moments with him, so when the time came to let go, she had memories to hold her together.

…

A few weeks later

"Congratulations! It's a boy!"

Sally already knew it was a boy, but she was so excited that he was finally out, she didn't say anything and instead clutched the screaming, red, little body to her chest. He was so small.

The nurses rushed around, but Sally ignored them.

Her baby had calmed some. His hair was thick and black. Sally wasn't sure if it was because he had Poseidon's hair or if it was just because he was a newborn. She knew his eyes would be gray for a few weeks, but she couldn't wait to see what his actual eye color was; hopefully, sea green.

The nurses took him down the hall for some general checkups. When he came back, healthy and clothed, she nursed him, and just admired the tiny thing. His hands, his feet, his little nose… She was in awe. She grinned and looked up, only to remember she didn't have a husband, and her baby's father wasn't here to celebrate with her.

She couldn't help the emotion that washed over her. She stroked the little boy's cheek lovingly.

"He'd be here if he could, but you have to excuse him, and understand. He's a god, you see, and he has an ocean to run. And he's forbidden from seeing you. But he loves you, and he'd be here if he could."

"Excuse me, dear?" A nurse was in the room. Sally hadn't seen her, and had spoken out loud to her child. The woman looked confused.

"Nothing," Sally smiled.

"Well, Ms. Jackson, I'll leave you to have some time with your baby soon. I just need to know his name."

"His-his name?"

"Yes."

"Oh, um…"

Shoot. She knew she forgot something.

Sally's head spun. Her baby was here, in her arms, fast asleep, and in her head, he was still 'Baby'.

She almost said it out loud. Good thing she caught herself. 'Baby Jackson' just didn't sound good.

She thought about the beach. She remembered the Greek myths. She remembered her favorite hero, not because of his deeds or victories, though they were impressive. He caught her attention because he was one of very few who lived a considerably long time. He died peacefully. And, from what it seemed, he was one of very few who was happy.

She wanted that for her son.

She didn't want a Hercules, with twelve awful labors that, granted, made him famous, and yes, made him a god. She wanted a son who lived, was heroic in his own right, and was, most importantly, happy. She could only remember one hero like that.

The nurse looked bewildered when she heard the name, but Sally didn't care. She was getting more and more excited the more she ran the name through her head. It sounded perfect.

Perseus Jackson.

She repeated it over and over in her mind, and then out loud when the nurse left.

A truly heroic name, indeed.

But when she looked down, she started to have second thoughts.

The boy was so… small. True, he would get bigger, but the name just seemed so overbearing for such a tiny thing. She tried out the name.

"Perseus," she cooed. But even in a baby voice, the name was such a mouthful.

She didn't want to change it, though. It had a nice ring to it, Perseus Jackson. And he'd grow into it, eventually. What she needed was a nickname. Something short but cute, that could quickly roll off the tongue when he was called or hanging out with friends.

She remembered all those y-ending names. Hmm…

Percy…

Percy.

Yes. That was it. Percy.

She looked down at her baby and gave it another shot.

"Hi, Percy," she said softly. "Hi, sweetie."

That was much better. It fit into the baby talk nicely.

She tested out the name some more, just to be absolutely positive it was right.

"Percy. Percy, dear. Percy, sweetheart. Perseus, clean your room!"

Ah. Now that could come in handy.

It was perfect.

Percy Jackson.

A truly catchy name, indeed.

No one would forget that name, not for centuries, she was sure. And Poseidon would approve. Hopefully, it would bring some of his namesake's good luck.

Good luck.

The seashell!

Sally pulled the delicate necklace from her purse. She put it around her baby's neck and smiled. Almost instantly, his skin had a faint glow to it. When he next opened his eyes, they had lost the gray coloring the doctor told her all newborn babies had and would have for some time.

The two big, bright, curious eyes staring back at her were sea green.

He gripped her finger in his fist, and she felt that strength with which he had kicked her from inside not long ago.

"Percy," she whispered, "Percy Jackson. Perfect."

The little boy sneezed in approval.

~oOo~

A/N: What'd you think? Did you find my direct PJO references? If you didn't…

'Seaweed' like 'Seaweed Brain' (I also mentioned 'girlfriend')

'Peter Johnson', the name Mr. D. usually calls him

I'm not entirely sure where I'll keep going with this, or when I'll next update. Remember, this is NOT a pre-written story like 'Untangling Knots'. It's not even outlined, like 'Untangling Knots' was before I finished it (before posting). This story is not a regularly updated one, just one I write when I can.

I know I said I'd have a new story up and finished by the end of this summer. Obviously, that didn't happen, and I apologize. I'll try to finish it up. When it is completely finished (and I cannot say when that will be) then I will start posting and it will get updated once a week. Sound good? Cool.

R&R!

- Promise