Unfathomable: Chapter 4 – Poseidon

A/N: Again, not much to say, but here you go!

Oh, actually:

Review Reply:

Foxy11814: it's like you read my mind, because that's EXACTLY where I was going with this… right in this chapter! So, in a way, without specifically meaning to, I guess this chapter is dedicated to you, for thinking like me :) And may I say your brain is quite intelligent ;)

**Note: the time references in italics throughout the chapter are relative to the time frame of the last chapter. So the first one that says 'a few weeks ago' means a few weeks before Percy's birth, around the same time the last chapter starts in Sally's POV, but this what Poseidon was thinking then.

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO.

Hope you enjoy!

~oOo~

A few weeks ago

Poseidon paced back and forth in his throne room. Sally was going to give birth in a few weeks, and he couldn't stand the idea of not being there when his son was born.

He didn't mention it to Sally, partially because it'd be extremely awkward and partially because there wasn't a good reason to, but Poseidon had had a lot of kids.

Like, a lot of kids.

And she probably already knew that.

But this was the first time he'd actually really cared. Not to say he didn't care about his other kids – he did, at least a little bit, sort of – but of all the kids he'd had over the millennia he'd been alive, this was the one he most anticipated, for various reasons.

For one thing, most of his other kids were born from casual one-night stands. In fact, he couldn't really think of any woman (except for maybe Amphitrite at one time, and of course, Sally) that he'd truly cared about when she got pregnant. The most he'd felt after getting a girl pregnant was a little bad for about two minutes before another pretty girl walked by.

He wasn't exactly proud of that, no, but he wasn't particularly ashamed, either. Most of those girls knew what they were getting themselves into. Some of them hadn't known, and yes, he felt really bad about those girls, but all that happened years ago. He was a young, stupid god looking for someone to spend the night with, and unfortunately, a child had been conceived from those encounters. It wasn't his fault he was incredibly fertile.

But Sally was different. He'd actually been in a real relationship with her. He didn't want to leave her. He wanted to stay by her side and have this baby with her. He couldn't, though. It was forbidden, thanks to that stupid pact he'd made after World War II. He already broke that oath. He'd done enough to mess with this poor woman's life. He had to step back even if it killed him.

Perhaps this was the Fates' punishment for him, that the one woman he truly felt for was the one he couldn't have.

Gods, he felt like Calypso…

The worst part was that he wouldn't be the only one paying the price for his actions. His innocent son would get thrown into a pool of shark-infested waters for something that wasn't his fault. Poseidon knew that when Zeus and Hades heard of the boy's existence, they'd crack down hard on the poor kid.

Poseidon was such an idiot.

The best he could do was offer that temporary protection. Hopefully it didn't wear off too soon. Hopefully Sally would take his advice and send him away as soon as possible, though he had a feeling that wasn't going to happen.

Now Poseidon was pacing around his underwater palace helplessly as his lover ran around frantically, trying to prepare for their soon-to-be-born child all by herself.

And there was nothing he could do about it.

…

Two weeks later

Poseidon watched as Sally wandered around the beach. She was picking out names for their son, and he felt a twinge of jealousy that she hadn't asked for his opinion.

He knew that it was ridiculous to be upset. What was she supposed to do, pick up a conch shell and give him a call? Hey, I know the baby I have inside of me is kind of illegitimate and I could get blasted to bits right now, but I can't decide what to name him, thoughts?

Still, it would've been nice if she'd asked. He wanted to suggest names, even though he hadn't thought of any himself. Then again, Sally was at the beach, specifically because of him, so he figured that was her way of discreetly asking for help.

He chuckled at her creative selections. After a few minutes of her frustration, he decided to send her a little something.

Poseidon watched her pick up the book of Greek myths and begin to read. He was trying to inspire her to pick a hero's name, whichever she liked best, or at least remind her that their son would be a hero and would need a strong name.

She struggled a while longer, but Poseidon had faith in her to pick the right name.

…

Two weeks later, Poseidon was once again anxiously pacing. Sally had gone into labor.

He wanted to be in the delivery room with her, hold her hand, and reassure her that it would be okay, encourage her to keep pushing. But he couldn't go up there, and he knew she could handle it on her own.

A few hours or so later, he stopped abruptly and walked closer to the live-image of the occasion from which he had been able to indirectly partake in the event. He heard crying. His eyes grew wide as he noticed the small, red, wriggly thing that was screaming and thrashing as it was carried to Sally.

Sally looked exhausted but still beautiful as ever. She opened her arms to accept the tiny new life. She hugged the little boy close to her chest. Her eyes had tears in them as she caressed his face tenderly. Poseidon smiled, but it faded soon.

Sally had looked up, smiling, to her left. She stared at the empty space beside her bed before looking back down at their son with a sad expression, and he knew why she was sad. It was for the same reason he was sad.

He couldn't be there. He watched with a pain in his chest as the nurses cleaned up and took the baby out of the room.

Poseidon took a deep breath. This was for the best. At least was still getting to watch, even if it was from a rainbow.

When he had somewhat recovered and returned his attention to the misty screen, he saw that a nurse had asked Sally what the baby's name was. At this, he listened carefully. He was curious to find out what she had finally chosen.

She hesitated for a moment, and Poseidon realized she hadn't decided what to name the boy yet. Finally, she gave a name, and Poseidon couldn't help but smile wide when he heard it. It was perfect.

"Perseus Jackson."

…

A few more weeks later

Okay, so yes, it was a little pathetic, but it was a cliché for a reason.

"I go, I go not, I go, I go not…"

Poseidon didn't have sunflowers under the sea, but he was making do by pulling apart the strands of some seaweed.

You'd think that an almighty sea god like himself would have a more sophisticated method for making decisions, like asking his adviser for his opinion, but truth be told… he hadn't thought of that. Oh, well.

(Besides, his adviser was a dolphin who'd suggest rock-paper-scissors-shoot, and it was hard to determine a winner when playing with a fingerless, sneaky dolphin.)

He braced himself as he was down to the last strands.

"I go, I go not. I go, I go not. I go, I go not… I go."

The seaweed had spoken.

He had to go.

…

Poseidon stood outside Sally's apartment, hand hovering over the door, ready to knock. But he couldn't summon up the courage to do it.

He was afraid of her reaction. He was scared of what could happen. She had been doing so well on her own. She had been holding it together. He didn't want to mess with her feelings anymore. He'd be too tempted to stay. He just couldn't do this to her.

But the seaweed had spoken. He was here. He had to see him…

Poseidon waited, though he wasn't sure what he was waiting for. After a moment, he decided to turn into a fly. Not his best look, but he needed a way to get in there without her seeing him.

He buzzed through the crack between the door and the floor and he was in. He passed the small kitchen, where he saw Sally making some diner for herself. She had a baby monitor with her. The little boy – Percy, he reminded himself – wasn't in the room. That must've meant he was in her room.

Poseidon buzzed around, looking for it.

He flew through an open door, and there he was.

Next to what must've been Sally's bed was a wooden crib. In it were some blankets, a few stuffed animals, and… a baby.

His baby.

The little boy was fast asleep. He was wrapped in a blue blanket. His little hand was curled into a fist which rested against his mouth. His hair was thick and black, like his. Poseidon smiled. He glanced at the baby monitor.

He couldn't risk Sally hearing him. He could turn it off, but he didn't need to say anything anuway. He transformed back into a human.

He smiled at the little boy. He touched his little hand, stroked his soft cheek. The boy stirred.

Percy shifted in his sleep. He let out a little coo. Poseidon wanted to pick him up and hold him, but something held him back. He didn't want to disturb the baby's peace or risk waking him up. And if he held the precious little baby, he definitely wouldn't be able to let go. Sally couldn't know he was here, so he couldn't stay, which meant not lifting the baby.

He wanted to stay just a little bit longer, but he heard footsteps in the hallway. He needed to leave.

He touched the little boy one more time. He rested his hand on Percy's belly. He felt Percy's breath against his hand one last time as he sighed.

As the footsteps got nearer, Poseidon whispered to his son, something he definitely did have to do. He knew he would never be able to get out if he held the little boy, but he also couldn't stay away if he didn't say this one thing, at least one time.

"I love you."

He leaned over and kissed Percy's forehead. He smiled one last time. Just as the door was being pushed all the way open, just as he was disappearing in a faint flash of dull, gold light, just as Percy opened his eyes.

Poseidon froze, half human-form, half light-form, and stared. His eyes…

They were beautiful, as bright and deep and lively and green as the ocean. He smiled at Poseidon, a sweet, endearing smile. Poseidon quickly finished his transformation and vanished, before Sally saw him, before the baby got scared and cried…

Before he changed his mind and scooped up the little boy and held him close and never let go.

~oOo~

A/N: I know what you're thinking. I am, too. Come on, let's get it out together, one, two three –

Awwwww…

Remember in TLT when Percy and Sally are on the beach, talking about is dad, and she admits that he never saw Percy as baby? And Percy says that he thought he remembered a flash of light, and a smile?

Well, this is what I always thought happened. Poseidon was there, Sally just didn't know it.

What do you think?

R&R!

- Promise