AN: Sorry about any spelling/grammar mistakes!

Chapter Nineteen

The Next Day

Annabeth

I stand next to Percy, my hand in his as we wait for Ethan and Ocean to get off their plane. Yesterday, after we saw the abandoned care home we put the flowers on Chiron's grave and after saying a few words we left. I felt sick and tired and I couldn't stay there too long.

I still can't believe he's dead. He's gone, never to come back again. Tears fill my eyes but I blink them back as soon as they appear, I promised myself I would be strong in front of Ocean.

"Mommy! Daddy!" the loud squeal brings me out of my thoughts and I come to focus just in time as Ocean leaps into my arms and throws her arms around my neck. It had only been a few days and I missed her so much.

"Hey, Ocean," I mutter and kiss her cheek while holding her tight to my chest.

"Where's my hug?" Percy speaks up, faking a hurt expression.

Ocean giggles, jumps out of my arms and into Percy's. I look up to see Ethan and I give him a quick hug before greeting him.

"Hey," I say. "How was your flight?"

"It was okay, though I feel a little jet-lagged," he replies.

"We got you a room to yourself next to ours in the hotel. Ocean can sleep with Percy and I," I explain. He nods before he and Percy does the weird 'man-hug' that involves patting each other on the back like dogs. I can't help but roll my eyes.

"Let's get out of here and to the hotel," I speak up when I realise the two men are too busy talking to notice that we're standing in the way of everyone.

I take Ocean's hand and she tells me how she spent our days apart. "I missed you," she says after her long speech about going to the beach.

"I missed you too, honey. But it doesn't matter, you're here now," I reply and ruffle her hair. Sometimes she seems much older than three years old to me. Percy always says that she has my brains and I have to agree.

"Can we go to the zoo? And the museum?" she asks, enthusiastically. "Please, mommy!" she adds, flashing me her puppy dog eyes.

I furrow my brow, fighting with myself to say no but still I end up giving in. Why does she have to do puppy dog eyes? She really is clever if she knows that puppy dog eyes always makes me give in.

She's spent too much time with her daddy, who also knows that that face makes my walls crumble.

"Okay," I sigh. So much for free time to plan the wedding. We haven't planned a thing since we got here.

We get a taxi back to the hotel and when we get there Ethan goes to his room to sleep while Percy and I let Ocean eat in the restaurant part of the hotel on the bottom floor.

She sits opposite Percy and I at the table and stuffs her face with a muffin while talking at the same time.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," I scold.

She pouts but stops talking and swallows the bite before repeating what she said before. "So when are we getting ma-ma…" she trails off, frustrated that she can't say the words.

"Married?" Percy asks and she nods.

"Yeah. When are we doing that?" she asks.

"We're not sure yet, princess. Hopefully it will be soon, before your brother or sister comes," he replies and she nods before finishing her muffin.

"When's the baby ready?" she asks, curiously.

"It takes nine months for a baby to grow, okay? I'm three months which means your baby brother or sister isn't going to be here for another six months," I say.

"Let's have a baby girl," she replies, excitedly. Percy and I laugh.

"We can't choose if it's a boy or girl, princess," Percy says.

"Why not?" Ocean frowns. I sigh.

"We just can't," I say.

"How did you get the baby there, anyway?" she asks. I nearly choke on my saliva but Percy pats my back while I have a coughing fit.

"I- umm," Percy stutters before looking at me. I glare at him. He's going to make me answer. He does the puppy dog eyes and I huff before turning to our daughter.

"The baby…" I pause, thinking. "The baby appeared after mommy and daddy wished for a baby brother or sister for you. A baby only comes when you love someone very much so me and daddy, because we love each other, wished for a baby and it magically appeared into my belly."

Percy nods, abruptly. "That's exactly what happened."

Ocean looks suspicious but she shrugs and asks, "I want a baby."

This time it's Percy's turn to choke. I smile at him and rub his back. Percy stares at our daughter and says firmly, "You're not aloud one until you are way, way older; like forty!"

"But fworty is old!" she moans, frowning.

"It's the age you have to be to have a baby," Percy insists.

"But you and mommy weren't fworty," Ocean objects.

"Let's stop talking about this now," I say, firmly. "Ocean, you can have kids when you're older than twenty and are married."

"But you and daddy not ma-maweed." She has a point.

"Because we didn't need a paper to show how much we love each other. Now let's go back to our room so you can have a nap," I say.

Half an hour later Percy and I are lying on the couch while Ocean is sleeping in the bed. "You okay?" Percy asks, pressing his lips to my forehead. I nod and bury my head in his chest before wrapping my arms around his waist.

"I guess," I mumble into his shirt.

"It'll get easier," he whispers.

"Will it? It hasn't got any easier thinking about mom and dad. I'm just used to the feeling," I reply.

He sighs. "Then we'll get used to this feeling as well. We have to be strong for Ocean and you can't be stressed because you know that it could effect the baby."

"I know and I'm sort but it's hard. We didn't even know he was dead. We didn't even call to check up on anyone. They were so worried about us, Percy. They will never forgive us," I say.

"We left because we wanted to be together. I don't know about you but I don't regret leaving, I regret not sending a postcard and calling not to tell them we were okay," he replies.

"I don't regret leaving, either," I say and then blink back a few tears. "I didn't think seeing the care home like that would have such an effect on me."

"I know. It looks horrible. I wonder how it turned out to be like that," he wonders.

"Me too. I hate seeing it like that when once it was a nice home. I'd love to fix the place up," I say. As soon as my words sink in I sit up abruptly and grin.

"What?" Percy asks, confused at my sudden excitement.

"Let's do it, Percy!"

"Do what?" he asks.

"Let's fix the place up," I explain.

"Annabeth it will cost thousands to buy it and fix it up. We won't have enough money to do that and get married," he says.

"Then we won't get married. We've survived without a piece of paper for years already. A piece of paper isn't going to change my feelings for you. I love you and I think we should fix the place up- for Chiron," I reply.

Percy stares at me. "Your serious?"

"One hundred percent. I think it's such an amazing idea!"

"You're pregnant, Wise Girl. You really think I'm going to let you do the work?" he asks.

"We'll get workers to do it. Ethan can help. I'll get some guys from work to come over and help," I say. The idea only popped into my head a few minutes ago and I can already imagine fixing it up so it's even better than before.

"And what do we do when it's finished?" he asks.

"We run it," I say. "We do what Chiron did for us."

Percy sighs. "Annabeth, I don't…" he trails off when I do puppy dog eyes. I've never done this face before but it must have a successful effect as I can see his eyes softening.

He rolls his eyes and says, "You don't know the effect you have on me." He presses his lips to mine. "You win. We'll buy the care home!"

"Thank you, Percy!" I grin. I haven't felt as happy as this in days. "You're not going to regret doing this."

And I know, I just know that this decision will be one that we won't regret…

AN: Tada! Some of you guessed that it was going to happen. So, well done to you guys. I wanted to add a little happiness since I know that some have you think the last few chapters have been sad. There won't be any sadness again, I don't think. Not much anyway. So, what did you think? Review?