Chapter Thirty Two Perry, Skip, and AJ
"Dad!"
Percy couldn't help but let out a little groan as he turned around from where he had been working on lunch to see two of his kids run into the kitchen, both looking incredibly angry and defiant. "What happened now you two?" He asked, he could always rely on the two twins getting in trouble out of the three of his kids.
"Skip took my picture and started laughing at it," Seven year old AJ said, crossing her arms and sticking her bottom lip out and looking up at her dad with her crazy green eyes. "He won't give it back no matter how hard I punch him!" She complained, throwing her hands up in the air in an exasperated expression that Percy could only guess that she had learned from her mother.
"See Dad she's been punching me again," Skip complained, pointing at his sister accusingly. AJ stuck her tongue out at him.
"Well you did taker her picture," Percy pointed out, leaning against the counter and folding his arms, trying to keep from laughing at the two of them. Both of them had somehow managed to get that defiant and stubborn persona that both he and Annabeth had. Sally would tell him that he acted the exact same way when he was younger. He still remembered the day that Annabeth had given birth to the two of them. She had sworn up and down that if the twins didn't come out that day then she was going to die.
Percy was pacing nervously in the waiting room, cursing himself again and again for being late. But he had to pick up Perry from daycare when Annabeth went into labor and no one else could. Annabeth had made him promise that he would get Perry first, before he came to the hospital. That resulted in him being late and not being able to get into her room. He could hear the occasional cursing from her room which made him smirk and cover Perry's ears which made Perry glare at him.
"What's happening to Mama?" The five year old boy asked, looking up at his father with the same grey eyes that his mother had. Percy ruffled his son's black hair.
"Nothing buddy, she's just mad," Percy said. "Because she's in a lot of pain."
"She needs to get her mouth washed, that's what she needs," Perry muttered to himself. Percy nearly choked with laughter.
"What did you just say?" Percy asked. Perry looked up at him innocently, but there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that Percy saw whenever he looked in the mirror. Perry was a sly one. He seemed to have a calm demur even for a five year old and was always polite and well mannered around adults but he also had a naughty streak. That's what happens when you let him spend too much time with Leo Valdez and the Stoll brothers.
"Mr. Jackson, would you like to come and see your son and daughter?" The doctor asked, coming into the room. Percy stood up straighter and grinned. "Your son will have to wait in the waiting room of course. He's a little too young to go in with brand newborns," the doctor said sympathetically. Percy looked down at Perry, wondering what to do. He really shouldn't leave Perry alone but he wanted to see Annabeth more than anything.
"I'll watch him," Percy turned around to see Tessa Ilium, the nurse who had helped Annabeth when she had been in the car crash, standing behind him. She was beaming and had a very round stomach. Annabeth and Percy had stayed in contact with Tessa and she still worked at the hospital. "Hey Perry," she said, smiling at the boy.
"Hi," Perry said shyly, hiding behind his father's legs.
"Hey buddy, Ms. Tessa's going to watch you while I go and check on Mama okay?" Percy said, bending down so that he was eye to eye with his son. "And then you can come and meet your new sister and brother, how does that sound?" Percy asked.
Perry bit his lip and nodded. "Okay," he said, trying to put on a brave face.
"I'll be right back Perry," Percy said and then turned to follow the doctor to Annabeth's room.
"Took you long enough," Annabeth muttered as Percy came into her room, closing the door behind him. She was sitting up in bed, her face red and her hair wild as ever. In her arms was a little bundle wrapped in a green blanket. "Skip is in the bed," she said nodding to where there was a blue bundle. Percy walked over to his son's side and picked him up, not being able to resist the grin that was spreading across his face.
"Hey there Skip," Percy said, kissing his son's forehead. "He's bald!" Percy exclaimed as he looked over his son.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Really Seaweed Brain, he's a newborn, of course he's bald."
"Perry wasn't bald," Percy pointed out.
"Speaking of Perry, where is my son? Don't tell me you left him at daycare again," Annabeth said, her eyes widening.
"No of course not, he's waiting in the waiting room. And before you bite my head off like I know you're thinking about doing," Annabeth opened her mouth to protest. "Oh don't deny it Wise Girl, I know what you were thinking. I could see it in your eyes. Tessa's with him."
Annabeth smiled. "Good," she said. "Want to meet Ata?" She asked. Percy walked over to her bed and sat on the side, holding Skip in his arms as he looked his daughter.
"Who was first?" Percy asked. Annabeth gave a small smile.
"Atalanta Helena Jackson was fifteen minutes before Scipio Constantine Jackson," she said, beaming proudly.
"You know Wise Girl, you should be lucky that you married into a family where it's popular to name your kids after Greek heroes or else you would never have gotten to name your kids those names. You know they're going to hate you right?" Percy said.
Annabeth stuck out her tongue. "Of course they won't."
Percy was snapped out of his daydreaming by Skip complaining more. "But Dad she punched me," he emphasized. Percy had to resist rolling his eyes at his son, he was more a drama queen than AJ was.
"And you let her?" Percy said. "I'm surprised. I didn't think you'd let yourself get beaten up by a girl," Percy said. AJ snickered at her brother who then proceeded to shoot her a dirty look. "Now you two need to go and play or fight and just not make a noise or do whatever you do. I'm trying to make lunch for us and your mom's busy working. If you keep this fighting up then we won't be able to go to the party tonight for Perry." AJ and Skip's faces fell and they nodded solemnly before running off through the massive house.
Percy shook his head as he watched the two of them run off. Thirteen years ago when Annabeth had said yes to him in the library he had had no idea just what he was getting into. Then again he wouldn't trade it for the world. He turned around to continue chopping up the vegetables he had been working on.
"You know these heels are really hurting my feet," Annabeth whispered into Percy's ear while they danced together on the dance floor, other couples swirling around them, dresses in vibrant colors, men in dashing tuxes. The music was being played by a mini orchestra as Percy had dubbed the twelve piece musical ensemble. He had been depressed to find that they wouldn't be playing any "good" music as he had called it, but he hadn't really been a part of planning the wedding. If he had his way he would have eloped with Annabeth and married her as soon as possible. But that would have resulted in a lot of angered people.
And did he mean A LOT.
Apparently their wedding was being advertised as the wedding of the year. Everyone was excited that Percabeth was finally tying the knot (or at least that's what the magazine article proclaimed to the world). There had been so many people trying to be a part of the planning part but he had to admit that Annabeth had done a very good job as soon as she had taken over it. Percy had warned everyone that she was a control freak and in the end Annabeth had dismissed everyone in the planning committee but all of her friends, Sally and surprisingly enough, her mother whom she had reunited with only six months before.
And the wedding looked magical.
Well except for the few exceptions. Thalia who was dressed in a pale pink dress (which apparently she had promised Annabeth she would wear when she got married) was busy arguing with someone, her spiky hair and converse shoes drastically offsetting her dress. Leo was busy trying to set a table card on fire, trying to show off for Calypso, who he was now dating. A year and a half later Percy still couldn't forgive her for what she had done and he knew that Annabeth wasn't on the greatest terms with Leo's girlfriend but they had both called a truce with her if it was only for Leo's sake. Hazel was dancing with her boyfriend Frank who looked more uncomfortable than a gazelle was in a pack of lions and also proceeded to knock over three chairs in the process of twirling Hazel around. Connor and Travis Stoll were trying to convince a few elderly guests that beagles were going extinct and that they needed money so that they could breed them and keep them living. Jason and Piper were attempting to hide in the back during their passionate spooning session and failing at it.
"Then take them off," Percy said. Annabeth looked at him shocked.
"I can't do that!" She said. "Everyone would see!" She sounded as if the very idea was a crime. Percy couldn't help but smirk at her.
"Goody two shoes," Percy taunted. Annabeth wrinkled her nose before flipping her long curls that she had let out of the elegant bun behind her shoulder and then stopped dancing. She stubbornly took off her shoes, one by one. She dangled them in front of Percy as if to show him that she was not a goody two shoes.
"But what do I do with them, I can't just toss them over my shoulder or else I could hit someone," she said, looking around. Percy grinned.
"Come on then I know what we can do with them," he said, taking her arm and pulling her through the crowd just as he had done two years ago when they were at the masquerade. They ran between couples, Annabeth holding her white satin skirt up with one hand.
"I swear I stepped on at least three people's feet," she said, turning red.
"Who cares, it's our night after all," Percy said as he pulled her out onto the veranda at the country club where they had decided on their reception. He wrapped his arms around her waist and grinned at her with a goofy smile that Annabeth loved.
"You're so selfish," Annabeth laughed as she tossed her heels behind her onto the lawn, her bare feet peeking out from beneath the skirts of her wedding dress.
"I know," Percy admitted, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "But you love me anyway."
"It's a sad truth," Annabeth said with a heavy, dramatic sigh and then laughed a little. "You know this reminds me of that masquerade we were both at all those months ago. We have a tendency to ditch the party to go outside."
"We're just way ahead of our time," Percy said. Annabeth snorted. "And those parties are nowhere as near as much fun as we're having right now."
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Please Seaweed Brain, this is ourwedding and you're calling it boring of all things."
"And you're the one who's throwing her shoes away," Percy pointed out.
"They hurt okay?" She said with a sigh and throwing her hands up in the air, exasperated. "I give up, let the world witness that I give up."
Percy grinned at her. "You know we're crazy right?" He said.
"No you're the crazy one, I'm perfectly sane," Annabeth said, tossing her curls behind her shoulder.
"Sure you are Wise Girl, sure you are," Percy said, rolling his eyes. He pulled her down onto one of the couches which had been set up on the veranda. She put her feet on Percy's lap and leaned back, putting her hands behind her head and grinned at him.
"See perfectly sane," Annabeth said.
"I wrote something for you," Percy said out of the blue after they had been looking up at the stars for a while. He leaned over and pulled out Riptide from behind the couch and Annabeth couldn't help but resist rolling her eyes.
"Honestly Percy, you always manage to pull your guitar out from everywhere. It's like it's a magical guitar or something, it follows you everywhere," her eyes twinkled in delight for a moment. "I mean one moment it's not there and the next, bam you whip it out from behind your back. Is it like an extension of you or something?" Annabeth asked.
"You wound me," Percy said, but he smiled at her. Tonight there would be nothing but smiles between the two of them. Even when they tried to stop they couldn't.
It was too perfect.
"Now will you listen? Or are you going to keep complaining about Riptide?"
"I'll listen," Annabeth said as she neatly folded her hands in her lap and smiled at Percy.
This is my love song to you
Let every woman know I'm yours
So you can fall asleep each night, babe
And know I'm dreamin of you more.
You're always hoping that we make it.
You always wanna keep my gaze
Well you're the only one I see, love
And that's the one thing that won't change.
I will never stop tryin'
I will never stop watchin' you leave
I will never stop losing my breath
Every time I see you looking back at me
And I will never stop holdin' your hand
I will never stop opening your door
I will never stop choosing you babe
I will never get used to you
And with this love song to you
It's not a momentary phase
You are my life, I don't deserve you
But you love me just the same
And as the mirror says we're older
I will not look the other way
You are my life my love my only
And that's the one thing that won't change
I will never stop tryin'
I will never stop watchin' you leave
I will never stop losing my breath
Every time I see you looking back at me
And I will never stop holdin' your hand
I will never stop opening your door
I will never stop choosing you babe
I will never get used to you
You still get my heart racing
You still get my heart racing for you
Still get my heart racing
Still get my heart racing for you
I will never stop tryin'
I will never stop watchin' you leave
I will never stop losing my breath
Every time I see you looking back at me
And I will never stop holdin' your hand
I will never stop opening your door
I will never stop choosing you babe
I will never get used to you
"What was wrong with Skip and AJ," Perry asked as he wandered into the kitchen and perched himself on the counter, a book in hand. He stared intently at Percy, watching him cut the vegetables as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Percy tried to resist the urge to smirk. His son had confessed to his mother one night that he was trying to be just like his dad which involved following Percy around, trying to mimic his every move. He was growing older and today he was turning twelve, a big number. There was going to be a party later that night for him.
"They were fighting again, Skip took AJ's picture from her," Percy said as he scooped the vegetables into the salad he was working on. Ever since he had married Annabeth he had gotten far better at cooking. Annabeth had refused to even touch any of his food that he made until she actually taught him the proper way to cook. It had actually been incredibly eye opening, learning that there were actually different knives used in cooking other than just a really sharp one.
"Was I ever like that Dad?" Perry asked as he leaned over the granite countertop and plucked an apple from the bowl on the counter and took a bite of it.
"Worse," Percy said, not even missing a beat.
"I was not!" Perry said indignantly. "Mom said that I was the perfect child!"
"She only thinks that because you're so much like her," Percy muttered under his breath. And it was true. Pericles Hector Jackson was the male version of his mother with the exception of his hair color. He was smarter than all of his class and had skipped a grade, he was athletic and had tan skin from being outside all summer playing soccer. But he was a little too smart for his own good. He tended to correct Percy a lot even though he was his father.
"What Dad?" Perry asked, looking at his father with those wide grey eyes that he saw everyday on his wife.
"Nothing," Percy said. "Are you ready to go to the party buddy?"
"Of course I am, I've already chosen which book I'm going to bring with me," Perry scoffed. Percy snorted.
Everyone knew that Perry lived up to his namesake Pericles, the great Athenian leader in the Peloponnesian Wars. Even though he liked to pretend that he was far above all of the kids that were his age and would rather sit and read a book with the adults, Perry tended to be the leader of all of his friends. Everyone loved him and followed what he said. Percy knew that he was really only showing off for the girl that he had had a crush on since second grade: Antigone Grace.
"Good for you bud but it is your party after all, don't you think you should maybe mingle a bit with everyone, thank them for coming and all that," Percy said, wiping his hands on his jeans as he set the salad in the fridge and then pulled the casserole that Annabeth had made earlier out of the oven. Annabeth had absolutely refused for them to have a chef to make food for them. Even though they had enough money to make sure that their great-great-great-great-great grandchildren were more than taken care of, Annabeth refused to let them live differently from anyone else. Though she had agreed to the house once she had seen it. But other than that she had drawn the line. Which meant that their kids did chores, Percy and Annabeth cooked, and they drove their own cars everywhere unless it was to some fancy event (which of course Annabeth despised).
Perry shrugged. "Maybe… if Annie's there," he added.
"Why don't you go get your siblings so we can eat? Oh and tell Mom that food's ready," Percy said as he cut the casserole. Perry nodded and slid off of his stool and hurried out of the kitchen.
"Percy?" Percy looked up from where he was reading the paper in the den. Annabeth was leaning in the doorway, her face slightly green.
"Are you alright Wise Girl?" He asked, jumping up from his seat and rushing to her side. Annabeth nodded a little and then collapsed on the sofa, too exhausted to move. She had been like that for weeks, throwing up, being tired and nauseous. Finally Percy had convinced her to go to the doctor… just in case it was something that needed to be addressed right away which he was praying it wasn't. "What did the doctor say?" He asked.
Annabeth bit the bottom of her lip, just like she did every time that she got nervous and then looked at Percy. "She said that we're perfectly fine," she said slowly.
"Then why are you…" he paused and then looked at Annabeth, his eyes widening as he repeated her last sentence in his mind. "Are you… I mean are we… Did you just say we?" He watched as the corner of Annabeth's mouth quirked up a little in a smile and her eyes sparkled a bit more than they usually did. She nodded.
"Yeah… we," she said softly, smiling. "I feel sort of silly saying this but... Percy I'm pregnant."
For a moment Percy was silent, his sea green eyes contemplating something and then he nodded. "Yeah… yeah I think I can do this. I think I can be a dad," he said. Annabeth smacked him on the shoulder.
"You think?" She asked. "You think you can be a dad? Please Percy you'll be the greatest dad there's ever been," she said.
"But… but what if I turn out like my father?" Percy asked hesitantly. It honestly was his greatest fear, to slip into what his father had done to him, disappearing from his kid's life. All of his friends as well as Annabeth had suffered from a problem with parental issues. And he was hesitant to believe in his abilities to be a father. After all didn't the saying go: Like Father, Like Son.
"Please Percy, you'll be amazing, I won't let you be anything but amazing," Annabeth said, patting him on the shoulder. And then she paused. "But I do want to do something," she said slowly.
"Oh and what's that?" Percy asked, looking at his wife.
"I want to write the baby letters."
"Are you two ready to go?" Annabeth Jackson asked her twins as they were busy wrestling with each other in the front entry way to the manor. She put her hands on her hips and sighed as she leaned down to untangled AJ and Skip from each other.
"Of course we are Mama," Skip said, rolling his eyes as Annabeth straightened his vest.
"Do I have to wear a skirt?" AJ grumbled as she tried to smooth her wrinkled skirt which Annabeth had picked out for her daughter.
"Yes Ata," Annabeth said as she ruffled her daughter's blond hair. "It's Perry's birthday so you have to look nice. If it was your birthday wouldn't you want everyone else to look nice for your party?" She asked.
"No, I'd want them all to be comfortable," AJ muttered, folding her arms indignantly. Annabeth sighed, it was no use arguing with a stubborn seven year old who seemed to have inherited both hers and Percy's genes.
"You three ready to go?" Percy asked, coming down the stairs with three boxes in his hand, each wrapped in different wrapping paper. Perry followed close behind, making sure to match his father's strides.
"I think I've managed to tame these two so that they don't look so much like orphans," Annabeth said, waving a hand at the twins. Percy kissed her on the cheek. "Do you have the you know what," she asked, pointing at the boxes.
"Already in the car," Percy said.
"Good, then I think we can go," Annabeth said, grabbing her purse. "Come on Ata, Skip, Perry, we're going to be late to Uncle Jason and Aunt Piper's house if we don't leave right now."
"And that would be bad because Perry can't be late to his own party," Percy grinned.
o.O.o
"Do you want to open your presents now Perry?" Percy asked as the large gathering of people all congregated in the Grace family living room, presents everywhere. Perry looked at them all uncertainly as if he wasn't sure they were all for him.
"I'll open them for him," AJ volunteered and of course Skip was eager to agree to help and Isaac Stoll, Skip's best friend, jumped at the word "present".
"Ata, Skip," Annabeth scolded, "It's Perry's birthday, not yours." Skip complained and AJ muttered something under her breath.
Perry began to open all of the different presents, politely thanking everyone just as he had been taught. "Thank you Aunt Piper and Uncle Jason for the Chemistry kit," he said gravely as he held it in his hands with the upmost reverence.
"Thank Annie really Perry, she's the one who said that you wanted it," Piper said, nudging her daughter who turned a shade of pink. She had inherited her father's pale skin but had her mother's eyes and dark hair. She gave a small smile to Perry who then smiled back.
"Thank you Grandma and Grandpa, how did you know I wanted a book about geology?" Perry asked, excited as he opened his gift from his grandparents.
"You're really the only twelve year old that would want one," Paul grinned.
When Perry had finished he neatly stacked all of his presents to one side and then began to clean up the wrapping paper before the younger kids could destroy it and shred it into a million little pieces.
"Wait Perry, there's one more gift," Annabeth said, as she nudged Percy in the side who reached behind the couch, just as he had done all those years ago to pull Riptide out at their wedding. He retrieved a massive box and tossed it to Perry who caught it with a grunt.
"This is from your father and I," she said with a smile. "We started it before you were born."
Perry looked at it confused for a moment before opening the blue wrapping paper. It revealed a large brown box which he then proceeded to take the lid off of.
He stared at the hundreds of letters, confused.
"Your father and I have been writing letters to you since we found out that we were going to have you," Annabeth explained. "Read one," she urged.
Perry randomly selected one from the box and opened it.
Pericles Hector,
You're almost two. And every time I look at you I am so amazed at how smart you are. Today we left you in your crib to take a nap and yet you managed to climb your way out of your crib and open your door and find your father and I. You are our special little prince.
Today I decided that I need to finally tell you why we decided to name you Pericles Hector. And no, I'm sure your father will tell you it's because I'm crazy, but let me tell you that there is a reason to my madness. I am not crazy. It's your father's family who has an obsession with Greek names and I find that I have also gotten attached to that obsession. I named you Pericles after a figure from history. He was a great leader in the Peloponnesian Wars though of course at this time you don't know what they are. It was a war in Greece between Sparta and Athens which started when a small city called… Your father had just informed me that you probably will not care about the Peloponnesian Wars when you're old enough to read this and that I am rambling on. I hate when he reads over my shoulder. But Pericles was the only leader of Athens which managed to keep Athens together. Everyone liked Pericles and everyone listened to him. Of course he died but I named you after him so that you will be a leader and you will be liked.
Hector was the prince of Troy, no not Paris, Paris was a… well I'm not going to be the one to teach my child foul language, that will probably be your father's job. Hector was the older brother of Paris who defended his brother even though he did not agree with what Paris had done. He ended up dying by the hand of Achilles. But Hector was a brave man, a courageous man who was willing to die for his family. He was loyal and honorable. And you my dear Pericles, I pray that you will be brave and loyal, honorable and defend your family.
Well this letter of course is short, but it's the thought that counts of course. And I'm sure that your father's letters are far more entertaining to read but know that I love you Perry.
All my love,
Your Mother.
o.O.o
"Dad," Percy peaked into his son's room where Perry was lying on his bed, looking at a letter.
"Yes son?" Percy asked, leaning in the doorway.
"How did you meet Mom? You keep mentioning it in these letters and I realized… I have no clue how you met each other," Perry said, rolling over onto his stomach and looking at Percy. Percy grinned at his son.
"Well… it's a long story and it starts with a letter in the library…"