"So," Piper said as they ate breakfast the next morning. "Do we take Shana with us? Or maybe one of us takes her back up north? I can do it. I've been to the wolf house before."

Annabeth and Percy looked at each other. They had this conversation the night before, but didn't go to bed with any conclusions.

Annabeth looked at Shana, who was eating fruit loops and pretending she wasn't listening to the adults.

Annabeth remembered her own experiences as a runaway. If Luke and Thalia had split up and she had been sent with just one, she wouldn't have appreciated it. Then again, they were adults. Luke and Thalia had been kids like her. Didn't adults know best? Wouldn't Shana understand? The trip ahead of them wasn't going to be a child friendly experience. Then again, Percy had said that training with Lupa wasn't exactly a piece of cake.

"Maybe we should ask Shana what she thinks?"

Shana looked up, her dark eyes alert.

Annabeth continued speaking but directed her worlds at the young girl. "Shana, we have a job to do. But to do our job we have to go away from New Rome and Lupa. We can't go back until our job is done, but it's not going to be a journey that will be easy. There's going to be monsters. But, I think you're a big enough girl to choose. Piper can take you to Lupa, or you can come with all three of us."

Percy frowned at her. His expression said the words he used the night before. We have to take her with us.

Instead of voicing the same words he said.,"Shana, what did your dad tell you about Lupa? How much do you know about New Rome?"

Shana swallowed her bite of her cereal and put down her spoon. Now that she had been fed and cared for, her fear of the three adults melted away. She seemed to age up a year or two, and spoke hesitantly instead of not at all.

"My daddy and my grandpa learned a lot from Lupa. She taught them to fight monsters. Dad lived in new Rome for a long time. He fought lots of monsters and bad people too. When he was old he left and met my mom. He said my mom was special, a goddess. He said I had to find Lupa when he was too old to take care of me. He told me that I had to be brave because she's a wolf. But I'm scared."

Annabeth didn't know if she would have the courage to approach a large wolf as a child. At least not without a good reason and plan.

"Do you know Lupa?" Shana asked.

Annabeth and Piper shook their heads.

"I do," Percy said, he sat forward and looked across the table at Shana. "It's okay to be scared. You can't be brave if you're not also scared."

"Are you scared?"

"Sometimes," Percy said. "But then I remember how much my friends need me. And it helps me to be brave."

"I don't have friends."

"Yes you do. We're your friends."

Shana smiled. "Then… I can come with you?"

Percy glanced at Annabeth, then Piper. They both nodded assent.

Percy grinned. "You can come with us."

Annabeth nodded. "We can show you what we know about fighting monsters."

Shana smiled at all three of them, then went back to her fruit loops.

Piper laughed softly to herself.

"What?" Annabeth said.

Piper crossed her arms and leaned back comfortably. "You guys make great parents."

Annabeth looked at Percy. He made a face that said what did I do?

"You know what?" Annabeth looked back at Piper. "We do, don't we?"

With some sweet talk and a smile from Piper, the car was fixed by the end of the day.

Back on the road, Percy sat in the drivers seat, his eyes staring straight ahead.

Piper sat in the back with Shana, bobbing a little plastic figurine up, down and side to side as if it had become animated.

As the desert turned dark and the girls in the back fell asleep, Annabeth quietly slipped her hand into Percy's.

He glanced at her then turned his attention back to the road.

"You know we're headed into a trap right?" He said it as a statement, he wasn't questioning her forethought.

"Obviously," she said. "But that's kind of our thing isn't it."

"Yeah. I guess it is. What does that say about us?"

"I guess we're fuckin' heroes or something."

Percy laughed. "Yeah, although I wish I had laser vision or super strength."

Annabeth scoffed. "You're one to talk, water boy."

"I don't know how helpful ocean powers will be in the desert."

"There's... some water in the Grand Canyon."

Percy made a pouting face. "Still wish I had super strength. Plus, ocean water is different."

"Maybe we should stop at a pet store and get some saltwater and a tank to keep you in."

"Aww," he said sarcastically. "How thoughtful of you. And my birthday's not even 'till next month."

"I have to keep my exotic pets alive and happy."

"Ooh! I'm exotic?"

"Absolutely, you're attractive and strikingly out of the ordinary. Plus you're pretty unusual."

"I don't know whether to be offended or flattered."

"Take the compliment, Aquaman."

"Thanks…"

Several minutes passed in silence before Annabeth spoke again, this time her tone less joking.

"Hey, I think it's really sweet," she said. "How you've been so kind to Shana.. I just thought you should know."

Percy squeezed her hand. "Well, I wasn't trying to impress you but I'm glad I did."

"I think you'll be an excellent dad," she knew what she wanted to say, and she said the words carefully. "Our kids will be lucky."

They had only ever talked about having children one other time. The conversation had been short. It went something like:

Percy how do you feel about starting a family some day?

Annabeth some day? I mean I guess so. Honestly I don't really want kids right now though. Or even in the next few years. I don't think I'm ready for something like that.

Percy Oh. Okay

That's one reason she had wanted abstinence. Once you opened that door, even a crack, you had to be ready to walk through it. Annabeth wasn't ready.

After seeing how gentle he was with Shana, Annabeth knew Percy was ready. If they had a kid, on purpose or otherwise, he would have no problem with it; in fact, it would probably make him incredibly happy.

Percy didn't say anything but the car slowed and he pulled off the road, parking the car in a patch or dirt.

Annabeth frowned. Her mind raced; what was wrong? She thought he would have been happy.

Percy released her hand and stepped out of the car. He left it running and walked around to the passenger side, opening the door and offering Annabeth his hand.

She unbuckled and stepped out with him, confused.

He shut the door and looked at her. "You said, 'our kids'."

Annabeth nodded and he held her hands.

"Do you mean that? Do you want to have a family? With me?" She could hear hesitant excitement in his voice and it made her smile.

His questions also made her pause. Did she really mean it?

"Yes," she said. "I mean it."

He left out a whoosh, like he had been holding his breath. The he wrapped her in a bear hug so tight she almost couldn't breathe herself.

"Just… not… right now," she gasped. "Can't… breathe."

He loosened his grip. "Sorry, and yeah you're right. Obviously not right now. But… thank you."

She didn't really understand what he meant by thanking her but it was still nice to hear. He stepped back and opened the door for her.

"I'll be right back," he said. "Just need to, uh, step away for a second."

She raised her eyebrows. "Ah, so that's why we stopped. I was feeling very romanced for a second there."

He shrugged. "Two birds. One stop."

She laughed and took her seat. He walked a short distance away from the car.

Pipers voice startled her from the back. "That was frustratingly adorable."

Annabeth cursed in surprise. "I thought you were asleep."

Piper laughed. "No, but I'm glad the little one is. Percy's not the only sailor here. You gotta watch the language around her."

"Yeah, my bad."

"So," Pipers head was leaned back and her eyes were closed. "Kids? Does that mean something else will change with you two?"

Annabeth blushed. "I mean, eventually."

Piper opened one eye. "Yeah sure."

"You're not doing a very good job at chaperoning."

Piper yawned. "I am my mother's daughter. Hazel would have been a better chaperone. Or coach Hedge."

Annabeth sighed, recalling the time she and Percy had fallen asleep together on the Argo II, then had gotten in trouble with the old goat man.

Piper must have been thinking of the same thing. "What did you guys do, anyway?"

Annabeth shook her head. "Honestly, we just fell asleep. And maybe a little kissing, but that's all."

"Second base?"

"No, I swear—" her voice was cutoff by a heavy thump on the roof of the car. Percy tumbled down the back window and off the trunk. Piper and Annabeth jumped out of the vehicle, looking around wildly.

Annabeth grabbed her sword from the car. The Minotaur barreled towards her and she swiped at him before rolling to the side. Piper ducked back into the car for Shana.

Percy stumbled out from behind the car.

"I think he's mad," Percy said rubbing his chest.

"Ribs ok?" Annabeth prepared herself to jump out of the way like a bull fighter as the Minotaur wheeled around for another pass.

Percy grunted. "They'll have to work."

Annabeth rolled away from the Minotaur again. She drew her knife and threw it at the Bullman as he stood upright. The knife looked insignificant when it impaled itself in his shoulder but the Minotaur roared with pain.

His red eyes focused on Annabeth and he charged again.

This time Percy was ready- he had climbed up onto the car and leapt onto the Minotaurs back as he passed.

Annabeth dived out of the way but she wasn't quick enough this time. The Minotaur grabbed her by the leg, yanking her up into the air.

Percy yelled all sorts of insults at the beast. "Put her down! You flea-infested-fucktard!"

Annabeth had to appreciate the alliteration in that one.

The world shook around her and she caught upside down glimpses of Percy sitting on the Minotaurs shoulder.

"Gi'me your other horn, asshole!"

Annabeth curled up grabbing onto the course bulls fur of his wrist.

When Percy ripped off the horn, the Minotaur bellowed and released Annabeth's leg. Had she remained upside down she would have cracked her head on the rocks below.

Annabeth dropped to the ground, landing on her feet, and rolling backwards to disperse the impact.

"I want you to know," Percy grunted as the Minotaur tried to shake him off. "This is entirely personal!"

He stabbed the Minotaur and the beast crumbled. Percy fell without grace, landing hard. He groaned but pushed himself up to a sitting position.

"Well," he said looking at Annabeth. "You think he learned his lesson this time?"

Annabeth held out her hand to help him stand. "Probably not. But I think you made a pretty great superhero anyway. Even without laser vision."

"Aww," he stood. "Thanks babe."

She eyed him as he rubbed his chest again, grimacing in pain. "You good?"

He shrugged. "If I say no will you kiss me all better?"

Annabeth smiled and kissed him. "I'll kiss you anyway."

They walked back to the car, Annabeth supporting him.

"You guys did great," Piper said. "Next time I'll make some popcorn for the two of us."

Shana had a concerned look on her face. "Did you get hurt?"

Percy shook his head. "Only a little bit. Just bruises."

Piper stood up and stretched. "Okay, I'll drive- you should take a nap back here."

Percy exhaled in relief. "Yes ma'am."

Piper climbed in the drivers seat and Annabeth sat next to her.

"You should sleep too," she told Annabeth. "And if you don't go to sleep I'll make it an order."

Annabeth leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. "You don't have to tell me twice."