AN: I was meant to update sooner but a lot of things got in my way, unfortunately; some good things and some bad. It's never too late though, right?

A Few Days Later

Annabeth

It's Tuesday. The kids are in school and I am in my least favourite place: the mall. I hate shopping. I don't understand how anyone can enjoy it. It's tiring. It's boring. And it's always overcrowded. But I have to get some smart clothes for my job interview on Thursday.

I bite my lip as I walk up row upon row of clothes. Do I buy a skirt or a dress? Heels or flats? I'm already bored out of my mind and I've been here less than an hour. If I want to get out of here anytime soon I should just grab the first smart thing I see.

I groan quietly as I turn up into the next row full of dresses. Do I even want to wear a dress? I hate dresses. I roll my eyes, snatch a plain, black dress off a rail and start towards the shoes. Black or red? Silver or blue?

This is torture.

I reach out to grab a pair of black heels when my phone starts ringing. I sigh and dig through my bag for my cell phone. I press it to my ear once I find it and say as calmly as possible, "Hello?"

"Hey, Annabeth. It's Percy. I'm really sorry if I'm bothering you. Are you busy?" he asks.

"I'm just shopping. Why?" I reply.

"Lilly's school just rang me and asked if I could pick her up as she's feeling unwell but I'm working and I don't think it would make me look good as the new guy here if I leave. Rachel told me yesterday she has another important meeting today somewhere and I can't get hold of her. I don't want to put you on the spot or anything. If you don't want to it's fine, don't worry, but could you possibly pick her up and look after her?"

"Sure," I reply immediately. "I need to get out of this mall before I pull my hair out."

"Thank you," he sighs, sounding relieved. "I'll pick her up as soon as I finish work. You are the best."

"You're welcome. I'll go get her now," I say, already walking back to the row of dresses. I dump my dress back on the rail and start towards the exit.

"I better go. My next class starts now. Again, thank you. I'll see you later," he replies.

"Okay. Bye," I say before hanging up and dropping my phone back into my bag.

I find my car in the parking lot and buckle up before I start driving towards Lilly's school. It's usually only a ten-minute drive but as there's hardly any traffic I reach the building in seven minutes. I hop out of my car and walk to the school entrance where I'm buzzed in.

I see Lilly sitting on a chair opposite the desk where there sits a woman known as Mrs. Wells. She's in her early-forties, has been married five times and likes to gossip about everyone and everything. She knows everyone and everyone knows her.

"Oh, Annabeth. I'm surprised to see you here. Can I help you?"

"I'm here to pick up Lilly Jackson. Percy is at work and asked me to come and get her," I reply.

"Ahh, yes. He did mention to me that he'd try and get a friend to pick his daughter up. Just sign here and you can leave," Mrs. Wells says. I take the pen she holds out to me and sign my name on the small piece of paper.

I force a smile at her before turning to Lilly. "Come on, Sweetheart. I'm here to take you home with me."

Lilly sniffs and walks over to me. Her face is pale and eyes red from crying. I press the back of my hand to her forehead and find that her skin is hot and clammy. "Where's daddy?" she asks.

"He has to stay at work but I told him I'd take care of you. We'll go to my place and relax, okay?" I reply. She nods and I take her hand. I throw a quick 'bye' over my shoulder at Wells before leading Lilly to my car.

I make sure she has fastened her safety belt before hopping in besides her. "So, you're feeling a little under the weather, are you?" I ask as I drive away.

"Yeah," she replies quietly. "My tummy is aching."

"I'm sure I have some magic medicine at home that you can take. You'll feel better in no time."

I pull into my drive a short while later and tell Lilly to make herself comfortable on the couch once we are inside. I search through a cupboard in the kitchen until I find the medicine I hope will make Lilly feel good again. I grab a spoon and the medicine bottle before walking back to the living room.

"Here you go, sweetie. Have a spoonful of this and see how you feel," I say, pouring the sticky liquid onto the spoon. Lilly opens her mouth and swallows the medicine off the spoon, making a face at the bitter taste of the liquid.

"Yuck," she grumbles as she settles back on the couch.

"The boys hate the taste too but it works wonders. You'll see. You look uncomfortable in your school clothes. How about I get you some clothes and we'll eat tomato soup while we watch a movie of your choice?" I suggest.

She nods eagerly and I smile before running upstairs into the twins bedroom. I search through their draws for a small set of pajamas and then head into my room where I strip out of my clothes and change into my own fluffy night clothes. I grab a warm blanket big enough for both Lilly and I and then I rush back downstairs.

I find Lilly searching through a box full of DVD's. "Have you picked one you fancy?" I ask and she turns and nods at me while holding the case to the first 'Lion King' movie.

"Good choice. Now, I have clothes for you to change into. They belonged to Connor but he's grown out of them and won't mind you wearing them. I'll go warm up a tin of tomato soup in the microwave while you change. I'll be right back."

I leave her again to prepare our soup and while it heats up I cut a few slices of bread we can dip into the deliciously warm liquid. I pour the soup into two bowls and carry it with the bread into the living room once it heats up. I rest a bowl on Lilly's lap and put my own on the mini table so I can put the movie on.

I sit back next to Lilly and put the blanket over us after I've set up the movie. We start eating as the film starts and continue watching it until its end. Lilly laughs at the funny parts, her nose wrinkling as she throws her head back, making me laugh with her.

As the credits play at the end of the movie I turn to Lilly. "Are you feeling better?" I ask and she smiles as she nods her head.

"Much better. Thanks, Annie," she replies.

"It's okay, sweetie."

"You'd be a good wife for my daddy," she says randomly and my eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

"Really?" I splutter.

"Yes. You are perfect for each other. Daddy's silly and you are smart and you are best friends like me and the twins and if you got married we could all live together and I could play with the boys every day. It would be so cool!"

"Your plan sounds fun but I don't think it would be that easy," I try to explain.

"It is easy. You love daddy. Daddy loves you. That's all that matters. Now, get married and we can all live happily ever after. Daddy will never be sad again because he'll have you to make him feel better like you just made me feel better."

"I don't know, Lilly."

"Grownups are so stupid. They want things but they never get it because they don't fight for what they want," Lilly huffs.

I frown. She's right. But what makes her think Percy loves me? Did he tell her? Or is she just trying to set us up?

I know I love Percy. I've known for a while and its been years since I fell out of love with Luke. But wouldn't I look bad if I started seeing Percy so soon after my divorce? It wouldn't be fair to the kids. They'd think I never loved their father, though I did. I once loved him very much. I wish Luke and I could solve our problems like mature adults and stop giving each other messages through the kids. It's not fair that they are stuck in the middle of our bitter dislike for each other.

"You are very wise for your age," I say, my eyes meeting Lilly's. She smiles and flashes her gums where her two front teeth used to be.

"Daddy says that a lot," she replies.

"Well, he's right. He raised a very pretty and smart little girl."

"I'm not going to be little much longer. My mom says I grow as quick as a Lilly," Lilly giggles. I chuckle.

"The boys will be home soon. They come home on a school bus now because they think they're too old to have their mom pick them up. You carry on relaxing while I make something for them to eat as soon as they get home."

"Okay," she replies and directs her attention to the TV screen.

I stand with a sigh and take the dirty dishes into the kitchen to wash up. As I clean I think about what Lilly said. Percy and I do get along well. And I don't want to be on my own forever. As soon as the kids grow up and have their own family I will be on my own. I want to share my future with someone.

And I can imagine that person being Percy.