AN: I know I haven't updated in a while and the only excuse I'm going to give is that I had writer's block. That would explain why this chapter is rubbish. (Well, that's what I think.)

Chapter Three

Percy

"I'm Percy…" I say when I stop staring at the woman and come back to reality. "I would shake your hand but…" I trail off and lift the ice creams in the air to show I haven't got any hands left.

The woman smiles and says, "I'm Annabeth."

I hand Lilly her ice cream before shaking Annabeth's hand with my free one. "I'm sorry she disturbed you," I reply, looking at Lilly.

"You can't just sit at a table if it's occupied already," I tell my daughter.

"No, it's okay. You can sit here with us," Annabeth speaks up.

"You sure?" I ask, half of me wanting to sit down and talk to this beauty and the other half wanting to get out of here.

"Of course," she answers, smiling. I nod before sitting down next to Lilly and opposite Annabeth. "You live in New York?"

"How do you know?" I ask in confusion.

"Your daughter told me your whole life story in less than a minute," she chuckles.

"Oh, well, that sounds like her," I say and poke Lilly gently in the side. She giggles. "And yeah, I live in New York. Do you live here?"

"Yep," she replies. "Although I was born in New York but I moved here with my husband fifteen years ago." Husband. She's married. There goes the tiny bit of hope that I'd had.

"Your married?" I ask, wanting to make sure that I hadn't misheard.

Annabeth sighs. "Yes." She doesn't seem… happy about that fact.

"I'm divorced," I reply. Why am I telling a complete stranger this?

"I'm sorry," she says, as if it's her fault.

"It was a couple of years ago," I reply, shrugging it off. She nods and goes back to licking her ice cream. I do the same before turning to Lilly.

"Who are your new friends?" I ask.

"I'm Connor," one of the boys says.

"I'm Travis," the other kid adds.

"I'm Percy," I reply, smiling kindly.

"Do you play football?" Connor asks quickly.

"I used to," I reply, confused at his random question.

"I do. Our dad said he'd play football with us at the park but he had to go to work again but he said he's take us out another day instead," Connor explains. I nod.

"Like that's going to happen," Travis mutters, quietly. I frown slightly, what does that mean?

"He promised," Connor says, nudging his twin brother. Annabeth sighs.

"He promises us all the time but he likes his work better than us. You are so stupid, Connor!" I guess Travis has the worst temper of the two.

"Travis!" Annabeth scolds. The look on her face hints that she isn't happy about her husband either. "Be nice to your brother or we'll go home."

"But it's true, mom!" Travis answers back. "I wish we had a better dad." I feel uncomfortable here, listening and learning about an obvious problem in the family's household. "Even Jess is angry with him!"

"I'll get your dad to take time off work," Annabeth gives in. It's only now that I look at her closely do I see how tired and stressed she looks. I suddenly want to know all of her problems and to help her through them all.

"Hey, why don't I take you to the park and we'll play football for a while?" I speak up, not thinking before I speak.

"Really?" Connor asks, obviously excited.

"Sure. If it's okay with your mom, of course," I reply and look at Annabeth.

"Please, Anniebeth," Lilly begs.

Annabeth bites her lip. "I guess you can play for a little while but not for too long," she gives in.

"Awesome!" Travis grins before standing up, getting ready to leave.

Annabeth looks at me and flashes me a grateful smile. "Thank you," she says, before standing up herself. "I brought my car so do you want to catch a ride with us to the park?"

"Sure," I reply and look at Lilly. "Get your stuff so we can go, Honey."

"Okay, daddy!" she smiles before putting her jacket on and putting her rubbish in the bin by the door.

The boys and Lilly race towards a seven-seated black car and then get in. I slide into the passenger seat when the other's get into the back and buckle up while Annabeth gets in next to me and starts the car.

"What do you know about football?" I ask the boys, turning in my seat to face them.

"A lot," Connor grins. "Me and Travis score goals all the time in school."

"Is that so?" I reply.

"Yep. Do you play football, Lilly?" Travis asks my daughter. Lilly nods.

"Daddy likes to take me to football games," she replies.

"We've never been to see a real football game. Can you take us to one some day, Percy?" Travis asks, pleadingly.

"Travis!" Annabeth scolds. I smile at her.

"It's okay," I smile at her and then turn back to the twins. "Of course I'll take you guys. Maybe you can even come to New York to see a game." More excuses for seeing Annabeth, right?

She's married, I think to myself and groan mentally. Why did that voice in my head have to remind me?

I have to admit I haven't felt this comfortable ever hanging out with a complete stranger. We know nothing about each other yet I'm in her car and we're driving to the park to hang out with out kids.

When arrive at the park Annabeth takes a seat on a bench and watches as Connor and Travis play against Lilly and I with a red football they had found in their car.

Obviously, I go easy on them but they don't seem to notice. They seem so caught up in running around and tackling the ball. When I announce that they won the game they cheer and run around in circles while Lilly giggles.

I walk towards Annabeth, smiling at her enthusiastic sons before sitting down on the bench next to her. "Your boys are something," I compliment while watching Lilly chase after the boys.

"They can be little devils sometimes but they're great," she replies and then adds, "Lilly seems like a little angel, too."

"She is," I say, turning to face her.

She sighs and stands up. "Well, I better get going with the kids. Would you like a ride anywhere?" she asks.

"No, thanks. Lilly's mom only lives a few blocks away so we'll walk," I reply and she nods before calling the boys over.

I don't want her to leave. What if I never see her again? Besides, I can't exactly ask for her number when she's married and we've only just met. That would be kind of creepy.

"Do we have to go?" Connor moans when his mom tells him that it's time to leave.

"Yes," Annabeth replies, firmly.

Travis and Connor groan, hanging their heads sadly. "Maybe we can do this again the next time I visit?" I say, wanting to cheer the boys up.

"Can we?" Travis asks, excited at the suggestion.

I shrug before nodding. "Only if you are good boys and your mom says it's okay then, yes we can."

"Awesome!" Connor grins.

Annabeth smiles at me and says, "We better go now or we'll never end up leaving. Bye."

"Bye, Anniebeth!" Lilly replies, waving.

"Bye, Lilly. Bye, Percy," Annabeth says before taking one of each of her sons hands and walking away.

I can't help wishing she'd stay a while longer…

AN: Can I ask a question? I want you guys to answer truthfully, okay? Do you like this story? If not then please tell me and I'll delete it. Review!