A/N: Okay so I totally was gonna scrap what I had ready to post a few years ago but this chapter had a nice recurrence of Ivy, and a very nice reviewer asked if we would see her again so I decided I would edit it up a bit and post it so you guys actually have something new to read that's not an authors note asking for ideas. Reminder for where we are in Percabeth's senior year: shortly after the start of musical rehearsal so it is late winter. I know that may be confusing because it's currently August but I guess that's the consequence of ignoring your story for 3 years. Enjoy!
xxx
"The snow is so pretty. It's such a shame how quickly it can cause a tragedy," Annabeth commented while looking out at the fierce winter night.
She and Percy were currently left alone at the Jackson/Blofis household because Sally and Paul had to attend a dinner being hosted by Paul's teacher's union.
"At least we can watch it from the inside where it's warm. I doubt the people who are currently walking home in all of that think that it's very pretty," Percy pointed out.
"I suppose so." She moved from the window and onto the couch next to Percy. Suddenly, there was frantic knocking at the door. Percy gave Annabeth a confused look and quickly made his way to the front door, Annabeth following out of curiosity and concern.
When Percy opened the door, they were faced with Ivy holding a pale, shivering little boy.
"Percy! Thank goodness you're home. Charlie's got a high fever and I think he may be dehydrated. I need to take him to the hospital, but my husband is stuck in the storm from dropping off my mother at the airport," she explained.
They did not need any more prompting. As soon as Ivy finished explaining, Annabeth had grabbed both of their jackets and was handing Percy his car keys.
"Let's go," Percy said, shrugging on the jacket.
The car ride was a very anxious one, due to both a sick little boy and the storm outside.
"He's never been this sick before," Ivy said, holding Charlie close, "My husband said that he wouldn't get too bad before he got back, but then he got stuck in the airport traffic and the storm."
Annabeth turned to face the distressed mother from the front seat.
"It's okay; he'll be okay," she soothed. "We're getting him to the hospital. What are his symptoms?"
"He's been throwing up all day, and he's had a high fever that hasn't gone down. As soon as it hit 102 I got worried and decided that we needed to get to the hospital before it got worse."
"That sounds like dehydration to me, but I'm no doctor."
They approached the hospital emergency, and Ivy prepared to quickly get out of the car and take Charlie in.
"Do you want me to come in with you while Percy parks?" Annabeth asked.
"No, no, you don't have to come in. We'll be doing a lot of waiting. Go home; my husband will get here eventually," Ivy responded.
"We can't leave you guys alone. Percy, park the car. I'll stay with Ivy and Charlie," Annabeth instructed.
Percy nodded, and the two women exited the car. Just in time because Charlie immediately leaned over and threw up again.
"Oh, my poor baby," Ivy said, fishing some napkins out of her purse. She wiped off Charlie's face as they walked into the emergency room. "I'm so sorry I don't want to leave you with a mess, but could you please sit with him while I go sign in."
"Of course," Annabeth replied and helped to lay him down across a few chairs.
After Ivy left, Annabeth felt uncomfortable. Well, uncomfortable wasn't really the right word to use. She loved kids, but her maternal instincts for sick children hadn't quite kicked in yet. She smoothed his hair back to keep out of his face and used one of the napkins to wipe off what Ivy had missed in her haste.
Ivy came back and said, "We might be here awhile. You two can go."
Percy had walked in as she approached, and he immediately protested, "No, we are staying with you guys until your husband gets here."
Ivy smiled gratefully. "Thank you. You two have really helped out a lot tonight, and for that, I'm really grateful."
Charlie began to stir again, and Ivy started to soothe him.
"I"m a horrible mother," she said softly, most likely just to herself but Annabeth heard her.
"Why would you say that?" she asked.
"He just got so sick, and there was nothing I could do."
"Sometimes there isn't anything you can do. The best thing you did was decide it was time to take him where the doctors can help him."
"I know that's true, but it is so easy to think that I could have done more."
"Don't think that. You are a great mother."
When Ivy's husband arrived, he was just as panicked and anxious as his wife.
"Thank you so much for driving them here," he said to the teenage couple.
"It was no problem," Percy replied. "I hope he gets better soon."
After a quick goodbye, he and Annabeth walked back to the car hand in hand.
"I'm really worried about Charlie," Annabeth said once they returned to the car. "I know he'll be okay, but I'm still worried."
"That would be your nurturing side coming out to play," Percy replied.
"You act like you don't see it a lot." Percy gave her a pointed look. "Hey, I can be nurturing!"
"I know that. It's just that you take after your mother a lot."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know exactly what it's supposed to mean."
Annabeth sighed, "Yeah, I know that I have a pretty hard exterior, but I'm not horrible with kids. You've seen me with the younger Athena kids."
"That would be because of your nurturing side."
"You're entire personality is nurturing. I'm lacking in comparison."
"So?"
"I don't know it just feels backward, but then, we aren't really the type to be normal."
"Being normal is for chumps," Percy laughed.
Annabeth stayed silent.
"What's wrong?" Percy asked.
"Someday we are going to have kids, right?" Annabeth asked, looking at Percy.
"I assumed so," Percy replied with a quick glance at her then back at the road. "Why?"
"I just don't know if I'm capable of being a Sally Jackson of mothers. You said yourself that I take after Athena, but I want to be like your mother. I want our kids to be raised with all of that love."
"Then they will. And you don't need to be another Sally Jackson. The world only has one of those. But you can be Annabeth, and that will be enough because they will be our children and we will love them so much. You may not see it in yourself, but you are one of the most loving people I know. You are also one of the most determined people I know, so if you want to be like my mom, I'm sure you will get pretty damn close. But not too close; that might get weird for me" Percy finished with a laugh.
Annabeth giggled, "Please stop trying to be funny. You're ruining my bad mood."
"That's kind of the point."
"I love you."
"I love you, too. Now stop worrying."
"I'll try."
They reached the apartment building and noticed that Sally and Paul had returned before them.
"They might not be too happy if we weren't up there when they got back," Annabeth noted.
"My mom will be more worried than anything else, and she'll understand why we left. Though we probably should have texted her," Percy replied with a shrug.
"Okay," Annabeth said, grabbing her boyfriend's hand while they walked up to his apartment.
"My mom might also be so worried that she will insist that you stay the night," Percy said with a small grin.
"Very smooth, Jackson. Luckily for you, I'm too tired to actually go home. And the storm is getting worse."
"Yes!" Percy cheered then kissed her cheek.
Annabeth laughed, "Seaweed Brain."
xxx
A/N: Okay so like I really enjoyed writing this emotional stuff. I totally rewrote a ton because tenth grade Morgan didn't write about emotional stuff very well, but we will give her a pass. I'm very proud of this chapter. Keep leaving me suggestions for where you would like to see the story to go! And yay it's time for a question of the day!
QOTD: Are any of you guys into any fun musicals right now? I've been listening to Be More Chill a lot. The song Michael in the Bathroom is the best example of what it is like to have anxiety in all of music in my opinion. So check it out and let me know what you've been listening to if you are also into musicals!