Their separation started slowly. That first day, Percy couldn't bear to leave his wife. He knew soon he would be getting less and less time with her and he wanted every moment he could have. After Athena left, they spent the day just being with each other. Well, being with each other while acknowledging the baby growing in Annabeth's stomach.
Annabeth had grown accustomed to the idea of being pregnant. Percy could see it with every move she made. Consciously or unconsciously, Percy didn't know, Annabeth almost always had one hand resting on her non-existent bump. Gods, Percy couldn't wait until she had a baby bump. That is if he would be able to see it.
They laid in their cabin at the end of that first day watching a movie. Annabeth laid across Percy's chest as he ran his hand in slow circles around her belly. Again, something he didn't know how often he would be able to do.
"I can do it, you know," Annabeth said, breaking the silence after the movie ended.
Percy frowned. "Do what?"
"Be a mom," Annabeth replied.
Percy kissed her head. "Did I ever say you couldn't? You're going to be a great mom. There's no one else in the universe I'd want to be the mom to my kids."
"Kids? As in plural?" Annabeth asked wide-eyed.
Percy laughed. "Let's get through this one first. But Annabeth, of course, I know you are going to be a great mom."
Annabeth leaned back to face her husband. "It's just, earlier, with Athena, you were so defensive about leaving the baby and me. Like you didn't want me to be alone with it."
"Of course, that's not it," he shook his head. "You could do this alone. You're strong and beautiful and brilliant. You shouldn't have to."
"But I do have to," Annabeth said softly.
Percy shook his head. "I'm going to do everything in my power to stop this bounty. But yeah, until then, you have to protect our baby."
Annabeth swallowed. "Let's get a couple of things straight first then." Percy nodded and
she continued. "The birth. You have to be there when the baby is born. I know my mom said you can visit occasionally, as long as you are careful about it, that has to be one of those times."
Percy nodded. "If I missed it, I'd never forgive myself."
The thought of his baby coming into the world alone broke his heart. Percy had no doubt that Annabeth could handle the birth alone, but she shouldn't have to.
"And our kid should know you. I know you shouldn't visit too much, but I want them to know their dad," Annabeth added.
Percy sucked in a breath. "I hope we can figure this out soon, but yeah."
"And when are we going to tell them about the demigod world? The world of gods and monsters? I was seven when I found out and I know you were twelve and I-"
"Annabeth," Percy cut his wife off. She paused. "Babe, we don't need to decide this right now."
Tears were in her eyes. "But we do. What if you can't visit us? I don't want to make these decisions on my own. Or what if something happens to you? Percy, I," then he kissed her.
"Annabeth, we have time," he tried to reassure her.
"But Percy, we don't. Tomorrow, we'll have to go out and pretend to start dismantling our relationship. I'll have to go away. And we've talked about kids, but not how we want to parent." Annabeth sighed. "Our baby is a target already; I just want to do everything else right."
"I know. I do too. I want to give our baby everything in the world," he held her smile. "So, let's talk about it. What do we need to talk about?"
So, they stayed up for hours talking. Talking about what to do about the world of gods and monsters. Talking about teaching the baby English, Greek, and a little Latin (Annabeth's idea). Talking about raising their child gender-neutral, although they wanted to know the baby's gender as soon as possible.
They talked until Annabeth's eyes began to shut. Percy carried her to bed and slid in next to her. For the last time in a very long while. Then, he slept with his hand wrapped around her stomach.
The next morning, Percy awoke to retching sounds. He ran to the bathroom where Annabeth was leaning over the toilet throwing up. He quickly kneeled down and held her hair back. After a minute, it was over, and he grabbed her a glass of water.
"Thank you," she said taking a few sips. "Sorry, morning sickness."
"Never apologize about anything that involves carrying our child in you," he replied.
He helped her up and they got ready for the day. For the one conversation they hadn't had; how they were going to break up.
They stood out in their living area. "So, Wise Girl, how do you want to end our marriage?"
"Not funny," she grumbled.
Percy sighed. "I'm sorry. I just have a hard time trying to figure out how to pretend to end a relationship with someone I am completely in love with and is carrying my child."
That's when Percy noticed how tired his wife was. She had lines under her eyes. Her eyes that normally sparkled dazed off. Her shoulders slumped as if she was carrying the world again. And she was.
"You've known, haven't you?" Percy said.
Her head jerked to him. "Known what?"
"That the baby," he trailed off. "You knew you'd have to do this alone."
Annabeth's lips quivered. She cursed. "These damn hormones."
"Love," Percy pulled her into his arms, and she tried not to cry.
"I'd do anything for our baby. Anything. Including taking them away," Annabeth said.
"I wish it didn't have to be this way," Percy said.
Percy let his shirt get wet from her tears. She continued on. "I've thought of every
possibility. Going to New Rome. But they've had attacks too." Someone with Neptune blood, a legacy, was killed there last year. "And I don't want to raise our child at Camp. This isn't a place to raise a child. And monsters could still get in here," the woods had proved not to be 100% safe. "I thought about taking the baby and running." Percy tensed at that statement, but he let her continue. "But I needed to tell you. And I'm raising this child. Us falling apart is the best option."
"I wish I could bear the burden alone," Percy said.
Annabeth pulled apart. "You practically are."
"Annabeth, you are pregnant. You are carrying our child. You are bearing the burden," he said.
"But I'll get to be a parent. I'll get to be a mom. I'll get them. You'll be alone," Annabeth said.
He brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "I guess we'll both be bearing our own burdens." Annabeth sniffed and Percy continued. "How about I just go stay at the Poseidon cabin for a while? We pull apart. Fight. You'll have to leave soon. Leave after we fight. It'll spread throughout camp and then I'll tell everyone about us getting a divorce."
"Gods, Percy," Annabeth looked like she was going to cry again. "Our friends will find out. We know how camp rumors go. But your mom." Annabeth shut her eyes. "Gods, your mom."
Percy knew he could lie to camp. He knew he could lie to his friends, although he didn't want to. Annabeth and his kid were everything. Family was everything. Which is why it hurt every cell in his body to think of lying to his mom. His mom loved Annabeth. Paul and Estelle loved Annabeth. And although Sally hadn't been pushing about grandkids, Percy knew every time they talked, she was waiting for news. And now he couldn't share that news for fear of his child.
"I know," he gave he another sad smile. "Another one of my burdens to bear."
"I love you," Annabeth whispered.
"I love you too," he pressed a kiss to her lips before he quickly packed a bag.
He gave her one last loving look before heading to the Poseidon cabin.
It was midday when he got there. Percy had never been the best actor, but he and Annabeth both had to get good fast. Adrian was sitting on the edge of his bed when Percy burst in. Adrian quickly stood up as Percy flopped on his bed and groaned.
Adrian's eyes darted. Percy felt bad for the kid. He was alone, trapped at camp. And Percy knew other kids made fun of him for his fake leg. Kids were jerks. Percy would make sure his kid was never like that. It didn't help that Adrian was very quiet and having a hard time making friends.
"Hi," Adrian said quietly.
"Hey," Percy groaned.
"What, are you okay?" Adrian asked. A quiet and sweet kid. Percy felt bad lying to him.
"Are you okay if I stay here for a while?" Percy asked.
Adrian frowned. Everyone knew Percy and Annabeth stayed in their little cabin. "I mean, yeah. But don't you and Annabeth have a place?"
Percy hadn't been a great brother to Adrian. He was an alright uncle figure though. He and Annabeth both adult figures Adrian could look up to. They checked in on Adrian often. Annabeth sometimes even more than Percy. Percy thinks it's because Adrian reminds Annabeth of Percy at that age and gods know he needed someone to check in on him.
Percy ran he hands over his face. "I just needed some space."
"Oh, okay," Adrian replied. "Yeah, it's your cabin too. Our dad," he faltered.
Although Percy had been raised with Poseidon as one of the better gods to have as a parent, lately he had been the worst. Poseidon's tiff with Echidna wasn't a secret. It also wasn't a secret that he refused to help in any way. Adrian only knew Poseidon as that, and Percy couldn't blame him for hating Poseidon.
"Yeah thanks," Percy said.
Later that evening, someone knocked on Annabeth's door. She tried to stop her tears, but it was hard with her stupid hormones. She was excited for the baby but not the things it was doing to her body. Ever since Percy left to stay in the Poseidon cabin she could not stop crying. At all. It would be little things. Thinking about raising the baby virtually alone. Lying to their friends and family. Anything triggered her.
Annabeth opened the door and Piper and Hazel stood outside. Their friends knew that Percy and Annabeth had to stay at camp for the time being or risk being attacked. So, thankfully, their friends had visited them often. However, they normally gave some sort of warning. Annabeth could fake her relationship falling apart in front of camp, but in front of her close friends, that was a whole other story. Time to start acting.
"Piper, Hazel, come in," Annabeth tried to smile. Both her friends entered but their smiles dropped noticing her state.
"What's wrong?" Piper immediately asked.
Annabeth shook her head. "Nothing."
Hazel quirked an eyebrow. "Where's Mr. Jackson?"
"He, he's," Annabeth blinked back tears. Now was not the time to cry. Or maybe it was?
"He's in the Poseidon cabin."
"Why?" Piper questioned.
Annabeth flipped her hair behind her ear. Focus, she told herself.
"It's nothing," she tried.
Again, her friends didn't believe her. They followed her into their small living area where 24 hours ago she told Percy she was pregnant. And then their future fell apart.
"Annabeth, you can tell us, you know that, right?" Hazel grabbed her hand.
This time, Annabeth was thankful for her hormones. She let her tears fall as she choked on her words. "We needed some space."
The two girls perked up. "Needed some space?"
"Yeah, I don't know. We've been off lately," Annabeth didn't know if she was pushing the lie too much.
"Off? How?" Piper leaned in.
"I don't know," Annabeth fiddled with her wedding ring out of habit. "I don't think we're clicking and," Annabeth didn't want to say the next part.
She knew it wasn't true. She knew from the way he had looked at her when she told him she was carrying his baby. The way he looked at her and her stomach with adoring, complete, full love. But she couldn't say that.
"I just don't think he loves me anymore," Annabeth managed to mumble.
Her friends laughed. "What?"
"Annabeth, you think your husband, who absolutely adores you, doesn't love you?" Piper asked. "Coming from a daughter of Aphrodite, I know that's not true."
"Yeah, not three months ago he was sobbing thinking you would die," Hazel added.
"But since then, I just don't know. You guys haven't visited in a while. Things have changed." Annabeth shook her head. Gods, she was terrible at lying. "And I don't know, I'm just tired."
"Tired of what?" Hazel asked. Now she could sense concern in her friend's voice.
"Running. Hiding. And all this time with Percy, it doesn't seem worth it," Annabeth had to stop herself from choking on her words.
"Annabeth," Piper was scandalized. "You don't really feel that way, do you?"
Of course not, she thought. Percy is the love of my life and always will be. But now I have his baby growing in me and there are monsters targeting descendants of Poseidon so there's a little bit of a problem.
Annabeth stared at her hands. "Can we just change the subject?" Annabeth glanced at Hazel. "How the wedding planning going?"
Hazel blushed. Frank and she had gotten engaged 6 months before. They wanted to wait until they were older, but the attacks had put things into perspective. Frank wasn't getting attacked nearly as much as Percy, being a distant descendant of Neptune, but it was still more frequent than regular monster attacks. So, he had mustered up his courage and asked Hazel to marry him.
"We want to wait a while until we get married, but it is going well. I like being engaged," she said.
Annabeth smiled. She remembered when Percy and she had first gotten engaged. They were engaged for not even a year. Percy had asked before their final semester in college and then they'd gotten married the following summer. But she remembered being engaged fondly.
"And what about you Piper? Any news on the dating front?" Annabeth asked.
Piper sighed. "Gods, no. Dating in your late twenties sucks. I went on a date last week with someone who's been divorced. Twice."
Hazel's eyes widened. "And how old was he?"
"28," Piper laughed and rolled her eyes. "Who knew this daughter of Aphrodite would have so much trouble dating?"
"Pipes, that sucks," Annabeth did not envy her.
Wait, if Percy and she got a "divorce", would she have to fake start dating again? Annabeth shivered. She hated the thought of dating again, even if it was fake.
The girls spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing. Piper and Hazel decided the spend the night. Thankfully, they were okay with Annabeth going into the solitude of her own room. Annabeth locked the door and tried not to cry.
Her hand rested on her stomach. Her heart ached. She wanted to tell her friends that she and Percy were not on the rocks. In fact, they were great. They were going to have a little demigod of their own. But she couldn't say a word and she didn't know when she would be able to. Annabeth suspected it would be a while. Probably not until after the baby was born. Maybe even longer.
Annabeth shook off the thought. It sucked, but she would do whatever to protect her baby. That included hiding it from her friends. Her stomach lurched. That may be harder to do in the morning.
That night, Annabeth and Percy slept far away from one another. Each of them was longer for the other. They didn't get much sleep that night.
The next day, Annabeth and Percy avoided each other all day at camp. Piper and Hazel were worried. Was there really trouble in paradise? They wondered.
Piper and Hazel consulted Leo and Calypso. At first, the couple said they hadn't noticed anything wrong.
Still, Leo and Calypso noticed Percy and Annabeth's distance. Leo approached Percy about it, but Percy could barely stop training to listen.
Leo consulted again with Piper and Hazel. They needed to keep an eye on them.
The third night, Percy couldn't bare to be away from his wife. With Adrian fast asleep, he snuck out quickly. Without being seen, he snuck into his wife's room. He thought she would be asleep. He just wanted a glance at her. A chance to see her golden curls across her sleeping face. A chance to gaze at her stomach carrying their child. That didn't happen with a restless Annabeth in bed.
"Who?" she sat up in bed, reaching for her dagger. Her shoulders settled when she realized it was Percy. "Percy, you shouldn't be here."
He slid into bed next to his wife who instantly relaxed at his presence.
"I couldn't sleep. Not without you," he kissed her slow.
"Percy," she mumbled against his lips but didn't pull away.
He ran his thumb under her tired eyes. "And it looks like you couldn't sleep either. And you need it," he let out a smile as he rested his hand on her stomach. She placed her hand over his. "With our little bun in the oven, you need your rest."
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "You did not just say 'bun in the oven', did you?"
He grinned wider. "I did." He pressed a kiss to each of her eyelids. "Now sleep. No one will know I was here."
Annabeth wanted to protest. She would have to get used to sleeping without him soon. But maybe it would be easier when he wasn't right across camp. For now, she let herself settle into her husband and doze off to a dreamless sleep.
Their pattern continued for the next few weeks. Ignoring each other in the daylight. Their friends worrying. Them in each other's arms at night. They lived in ignorant bliss, knowing their separation was going to come.
Rumors flew around came. It wasn't only Annabeth and Percy's close friends who noticed the distance between the married couple. Campers old and new were spreading rumors of what was amiss.
Then, one morning, Percy came back too late. He entered the Poseidon cabin and Adrian was already up. Percy froze. Adrian wasn't only up, but he looked like he wanted to talk.
The twelve-year-old sat on his bed facing the front door. The look on his face was solemn. There was another emotion mixed in, but Percy couldn't quite decipher it. It probably didn't help that Percy came in with his messed-up hair. Annabeth was at the point in her pregnancy where her hormones made her pretty handsy.
"Umm, hey Adrian," Percy tried to play off his entrance, but he knew his brother was too smart for that.
"Where were you?" Adrian asked right to the point.
Percy gulped. "I was out for a morning training session," he lied.
Adrian shook his head. "No, you weren't. You were gone all night. And this isn't the first night you've been gone either. Gone all night."
Percy ran his hands over his face. "Adrian, it's nothing."
But his younger brother wouldn't drop it. "Where were you?"
Percy gritted his teeth. "Nowhere." Still, he knew Adrian wouldn't take this as an answer.
Adrian pursed his lips. "Did anyone know where you were?" Percy had talked to Adrian about some of his darker adventures. He told him how dangerous being a demigod was and how that affected Percy. How sometimes he pulled away. He was probably just concerned for Percy's safety but in this situation, he shouldn't be. "Does Annabeth?"
Percy's eyes shot too fast to where Adrian was sitting. "No. And she doesn't need to know."
Gods, if Annabeth found out Adrian suspected something, she would tell him to stop coming. He would have to stop being with his wife and although he accepted that he would be separated from her soon, the longer the wait the better.
Adrian took in Percy's appearance and his eyes widened. Quickly, he stopped the subject and left the room. Percy had no idea what was going on in his brother's head. Thankfully, whatever it was, it had stopped further questions.
That night, Percy stayed in the Poseidon cabin.
The next day, Grover and Thalia came to camp. Piper, Hazel, Leo, and Calypso had called in reinforcements. Especially with the rumors started by Adrian flying around the camp. Well, Adrian hadn't meant to start the rumors, but he was telling his best friend, a son of Aphrodite, about Percy's late-night disappearances at breakfast, and soon the whole camp knew.
Grover, Thalia, and Annabeth happened upon Percy by accident. Percy had been playing the withdrawn card lately and he didn't even know Grover and Thalia were at camp. He practically ran into them on his way back from sword training.
"Wow," Grover caught Percy's arm as he stumbled past.
"G-man," Percy smiled. The first genuine one in a while as he pulled his best friend into a hug. "How've you been?"
"Wait to ignore me, Kelp Head," Thalia punched his arm.
"Nice to see you too, Thalia," Percy didn't pull her into a hug, knowing she hated that. "Are the hunters here too?"
Thalia quirked an eyebrow. "Where have you been all day? Yeah, we're all here. Chiron called an impromptu game of capture the flag. One your wife has decided to back out of."
Percy finally looked at Annabeth. She stood away from their friends, trying to shadow her tiredness. The baby was taking a lot out of her. She wore a loose blue top instead of her normal orange t-shirt. She still looked good though.
"I'm not in the mood," Annabeth avoided his gaze.
"Before you start, Percy, we should talk," and Grover practically hauled him away.
Percy followed him silently until they got to the beach. Percy froze. What did Grover want to talk to him about? Grover sat in the sand and Percy cautiously followed.
They sat in silence until Grover spoke, "Percy, what the hell is going on with you and Annabeth?"
Percy's shoulders tensed. He wanted to say, we're having a baby! But there was no way he could.
He shrugged, giving the same answer he gave everyone. "This bounty on Poseidon's children is taking a toll. We're each taking some space."
"Bullshit," Grover said, and Percy's gaze darted to him. Grover never swore. Ever. "Taking some space? You guys always are stronger together. Something's up. I can tell your emotions are all over the place." Stupid empathy link. "And Annabeth could barely look at you today. She looks stressed and exhausted. What is going on?"
Percy almost told him. He really almost did. If he could tell one person, besides his mom, it would be Grover. He wanted to tell him about Annabeth and him having a baby. About how the baby would be in danger, so they decided to separate until the bounty was over. But as much as he wanted to, he needed to protect his kid more. Annabeth and his child, so he had to lie.
Percy began to tear up. Tear up for the fact he couldn't tell Grover. Cry over wanting to comfort Annabeth and he couldn't. Sob because this whole situation sucked, and he couldn't do anything about it.
"I think we're falling apart," Percy said.
"Percy, all couple fight. Juniper and I do, but you make up," Grover said.
Percy shook his head. "Not this time, man."
Grover paused. "Percy, I need to ask you something." Percy waited. "We've heard the rumors around camp. That's why Leo called me. You and Annabeth stay in separate cabins. She can't look at you. Adrian says you're sneaking off in the middle of the night with no explanation."
Percy's eyebrows furrowed. "What are you asking?"
Grover sighed. "Percy, are you cheating on Annabeth?"
Percy's body involuntarily jerked. Gods, no, he wanted to scream at the sky. He would never, ever, do that. Annabeth was the love of his life. It always has been, and it will always be her. Shit. That's what Adrian thought when he didn't come back?
Percy couldn't blame him. I mean, what was he supposed to think when Percy came back after a night out. With Percy's clothes and hair messed up and Percy demanding Adrian not tell his wife. It wasn't a far leap.
Then, Percy made the decision. Annabeth and he knew their friends would find it hard to believe that they just fell apart. With the rumor that he had cheated, they had a reason to get divorced. He would just get all of the blame.
Percy swallowed and stared at his hands as he lied. "I messed up."
"Percy," Grover stood up and walked away from his friend.
"Grover," Percy yelled as he followed.
Finally, Grover stopped. "Does she know?"
Percy shook his head. "No, but I think she suspects."
Grover's eyes were dark. "I can't look at you right now." And he walked away.
That night, Percy had to go see his wife. He made sure no one was around and snuck into their room. Annabeth lay awake. She was only wearing a sports bra and shorts as she read a baby book. She set it down immediately when she saw him come in. She saw his red eyes and frowned.
"Percy, what?" but before she could finish, he was in her arms.
His head buried into her chest as he cried. He sobbed and he couldn't stop. "Percy," Annabeth's voice caught in her throat. "What's wrong?" she pulled him away so she could see his face.
"Grover, he thinks I cheated on you," Percy said.
Annabeth quirked an eyebrow. "Yeah. I heard that going around camp. I think we are going to have to stop these nights here. I," Percy cut her off.
"I told him I am. That I am cheating on you and you suspect it," Percy continued.
Annabeth dropped her hands. "Percy, why would you say that?"
"We need a believable way to end our marriage," he replied.
"Gods, Percy, no. That puts all the blame on you. We can't do that, I," Percy cut her off with a kiss.
"It's already done. My burden, okay?" Percy said.
Annabeth didn't argue anymore, and that's when he knew she was tired. So, so tired. He pressed another kiss to her lips. "We can talk in the morning. Right now, you and our baby need some sleep, okay?"
She nodded and leaned into his chest. Her ear was against his chest listening to the rhythm of his strong heartbeat.
"I love you, Percy Jackson," she mumbled as she drifted off.
His heart crumbled. "And I love you too, Annabeth Jackson," he replied.
Percy awoke to an empty bed. It was early in the morning, but Annabeth had been getting up early to use the bathroom. He got out of bed slowly to check on her. His heart stopped when he did.
The bathroom door was open so Percy could see the silhouette of her body in the morning sun. Gods, she was stunning. Her hands rested on the sink and her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore only her sports bra and shorts from the night before. Her midriff was bare, highlighting the small, but definitely noticeable curve of her stomach. Their baby was beginning to show.
"Gods, Annabeth," Percy approached her and slid his hand over the bump. It had grown in a night. She rested her hand on his as they locked gazes in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and red.
"I know," she said softly. "We have to break up. I, I can't hide this bump for much longer."
Percy pressed his lips to her bare shoulder. "Today?"
She nodded slowly. "Today."
Percabeth is going to break up! Oh, no! This was obviously coming, but it'll still be hard to write. Let me know what you all think of the story so far! More updates coming soon!