Percy came home to find Annabeth in the nursery, adding silver veins to the marble pillars of the Parthenon. The cool, early November sunlight streamed in the open window, lighting up the wall she was working on. Her hair was tied messily back with a bandana and newspapers and palettes were scattered over the floor. She had that new project gleam in her eyes as she worked.
"Hallo," she said brightly, looking up at him. She was wearing one of his old camp shirts. "How was your day?"
"Good," he said, grinning at her. When she'd left for work this morning she'd had her hair pinned and an ironed blouse on. He liked her even more like this—excited and messy and his. "How are you?"
"The museum," she said, "is a disaster. I love it. They want me to completely redesign the East Wing to accommodate some massive statue. Isn't that wonderful?" Her eyes gleamed with the idea of a fresh challenge. Percy laughed. "Only to you. How's Piper?"
"Surprisingly sane," Annabeth said cheerfully. "She left an hour ago after agonizing over how to get Leo into a suit."
"How did you manage that?"
"Death threats," she said, just as chipper. "And your mom sends her love." Every Wednesday Sally and Annabeth had a marathon phone call.
"Did she like the new ultrasound?"
"She's sending something in the mail, apparently," Annabeth said, glowing.
"And how is baby Jackson today?" Percy asked, leaning against the door frame and debating whether or not to keep talking with Annabeth or kiss her.
"Active." Annabeth stood with the kind of carefulness that came with being much more top-heavy than usual. "She's been running laps all day. Here, feel." She caught Percy's hand and pressed it to the curve of her stomach. Sure enough, little bumping flutters met his touch.
He was aware he was grinning like an idiot, but he really didn't care .
"Are you hungry?" Annabeth asked him, smiling up at him with her grey eyes. "Hazel's making gumbo for Frank and they invited us over.
"That is the best idea I've heard all day."
"That's what I thought. Let me change."
"What, no paint clothes?"
"Very funny, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth began cleaning up. Percy got on his hands and knees to help her. She changed while he tried to make his hair look like it didn't defy gravity, then gave up and checked to make sure he had his sword on him. Annabeth appeared in a very pretty turquoise shirt, and they walked hand-in-hand down the piazza to the pleasant, sunny apartment building Hazel and Reyna lived in. Piper had originally lived with them, but had rarely ever been there, and finally moved the majority of her stuff into Jason's spare bedroom.
Reyna answered the door, juggling two daggers, a bagel, and the full length of her senate robes. "Evening," she said around the rim of the coffee cup clenched between her teeth.
"Need some help?" Percy asked.
"Yesh, thirty shecondsh." Reyna turned and dropped her bagel on the nearest surface, then handed her weapons over to Percy, readjusted her robes, then took back one of her daggers and slung it in her belt.
"Thanks," she said brightly, securing the second blade in the pocket of the shorts she hid under the folds of her robe. "Hi. I'm on my way out, clearly."
"How goes it in Reyna-land?" Annabeth asked, giving her friend as best a hug as she could, then handing the bagel back over to her. "I feel like I never see you anymore."
"I know, it's terrible. Are you free Wednesday?" Percy didn't hear the rest of the conversation as he wandered into the cozy apartment, following his nose. "Hello?"
"Percy!" Hazel shouted, sticking her head out from the kitchen and beaming. "Come in come in!"
Percy grinned and obeyed, stepping into the deep orange kitchen. Hazel scurried around in a bright red apron, stirring and chattering. Frank stood there looking like he wanted to help but wasn't quite sure how; and Nico sat at the table, clearly amused by the entire scene.
"Smells amazhang," Percy cracked. Frank rolled his eyes, tossing Percy a dishtowel. "Just for that, you can start on the dishes."
"No, he cannot," Hazel scolded. "Sit down and let me feed you, both of you. Percy, did you forget your wife again?"
"Not this time," Annabeth said, grinning as she appeared in the doorway. "Hi, everyone."
There was a chorus of hellos, followed by Hazel insisting everyone sit down while she poured everyone iced tea.
"Look," Nico said, holding up a photo that lay next to a stack of mail on the prettily set table. "It's Coach Hedge's kid."
"He's so tall now!" Annabeth exclaimed, peering at the picture.
"Coach says I can give him archery lessons next time I'm out there," Frank said, preening a little. Percy grinned. "You'll earn your stripes, Zhang."
"Has Leo infected you?" Nico asked, drily.
"Are they coming?" Annabeth asked Hazel, eyeing the extra place settings.
"No, but Jason and Piper might if they have the time. Everyone's so busy," Hazel sighed, peering under the lid of a pot. "Nearly done."
"It smells like Elysium," Frank informed her. Hazel grinned. "Well, don't expect me to cook all the time."
"Have you set a date yet?" Annabeth asked, absently running her hands over her stomach.
"We were thinking midsummer," Frank said. "A couple of months after Jason and Piper's."
"And that gives you guys some catch up time," Hazel added.
"Hope you guys are sleeping again by then," Nico said, getting up to start on the dishes, despite his sister's insistence.
"Me too," Percy said feelingly.
"Do you have a name yet?" Frank asked.
"We have an idea," Annabeth said, slyly.
The door opened, and a voice called, "Hellooooo?"Piper and Jason burst in, pink-cheeked and grinning.
"Look out the window," Piper yelled. "Come on, come on!"
Skeptical, everyone stood and followed her to the living room windows. In the fading light, the piazza was visible, largely empty but for the two figures in it's center.
"Shut up," Nico said immediately. "Is he—"
"SSHHH!" Three girls yelled, swatting him. They pressed their noses to the glass, watching the two people below: Leo and Calypso. Leo was on one knee. Piper squealed ecstatically and Jason shushed her.
Calypso's hands flew to her mouth. Leo's grin was visible in the streetlights. He pulled something from his pocket that glinted bronze in the golden glow. There was a small shower of sparks, then a stream of white fabric burst forth from the tiny contraption. It unfurled, forming a good-sized banner. In shimmering gold lettering, the banner read, "Join Team Leo?"
Calypso was laughing and crying. Leo grinned, standing and draping the banner around her shoulders. He said something, and she nodded, laughing again. He pulled something from his other pocket and took her hand. A second later, a diamond glinted there. She threw her arms around him and kissed him, still laughing. In the apartment above, a cheer erupted. Leo's whoop as he pulled back was visibly through the glass. Piper had the window cranked open by then.
"YESS VALDEZ!" She hollered.
"She said yes!" Leo whooped, and Calypso laughed again. "Yeah I did!"
"Come in for gumbo!" Hazel yelled. "I have champagne!"
"One sec," Leo hollered back, and turned and kissed his fiancée again, sweeping her off her fete and earning several jeers and whoops from above.
That was a good night, in Hazel's warm kitchen, with bubbly champagne and plenty of laughter filling the room. You couldn't see their scars when they smiled, and they smiled more every day.