Hello! I am Kynzy. I am currently working on a story for the PJO universe, and waiting until I've written at least seventy percent of it before I begin publishing chapters. Until then, I'd like to write a series of one-shots in connection to my original story which can be read alongside it or alone. The original will feature a multiple-chapter, single story, introducing the legacy child of Percy and Annabeth. Ultimately, everyone can read it but it will be rated 'T' for caution.

These chapters will consist of moments related to the original, but not necessary to the story. I write to pique your curiosity while the original is a current work in progress, and invite you to enjoy! Feel free to follow for more one-shots and news for when the original officially drops.

(AN: In this one-shot, Annabeth reveals her fears to Percy, and Percy makes an unpermittable promise.)

The air of coffee floated in the apartment, the rays of morning light turning the kitchenette golden. On the stove, a coffee pot squealed. This caused the feet of a weathered chair to scrape across the floor, as a young woman stood to return to the stove. Her eyes were tired from a restless night's sleep, each filled with turmoil and exhaustion. She yawned as she took the pot off the burner, her empty hand cradling her plump belly.

"I know I'm not supposed to have coffee, but it's only a little and I have a job to do." She smiled miserably to herself, hoping the little baby in her belly would understand. After pouring herself a fresh cup, she went back to her seat and flipped open her newspaper. Sudoku was her pastime. She wanted to focus on her blueprints but her husband refused to let her work for too long now that she was so close. Her feet wouldn't let her stand for too long anyway. For the last month, she dedicated her time to focusing on her papers instead, to present to the institute the new product she wanted to produce for the human world.

The floor creaked as her husband walked in, groaning but smiling as usual. His hair was mostly black. The matching white streak in his hair had since turned silver with age, while the rest of it had hints of gray. He needed a cut desperately. If she squinted her eyes, she could just make out his dad underneath all that was her husband. She patted the table invitingly.

"Good morning." He cupped the back of her head and kissed her forehead. "How are my Wisegirls doing?"

"Oh, y'know, exhausted."

"More nightmares?" The man poured himself a cup of coffee and grabbed the creamer from the fridge. He went ahead and grabbed his medication while he was at it. The woman examined him. He didn't always use to take meds. He had just started taking them again about a month ago. She didn't ask him why, and she didn't need to. She recognized when his fidgeting had increased more than usual. His memory was worsening as was his attention span.

"Yes. But they were different somehow. I didn't recognize some of them."

"What, you're starting to have new ones?" He asked her sitting down with his prescription, creamer, and coffee. His spoon clunked on the table, and she winced. She let the silence hang in the air first, pondering whether or not she should be honest. She didn't want to worry him. New nightmares wouldn't have been a good sign, not for a demigod at least, and he'd know.

"Annie-"

"Yes. New ones. But it's confusing because they're mixed in with the old ones and they're all clashed together like a collage or a mosaic. I can't make sense of them."

Her eyebrows were knit tightly together. She had to prepare for the conversation. Worry washed across his face. She hated making him worry but she wanted to be honest with him. Sure they struggled communicating sometimes, but she didn't want to keep secrets. He kissed his thumb and rubbed gently between her furrowed brows, a habit he learned from her when she wanted to ease his anxiety. Usually, it worked, but not this morning. She grabbed his hand and kissed his knuckles before easing them toward the table.

"I'm anxious, Percy." She confessed, her eyes beginning to water. She squeezed them tightly and turned her face into her elbow, hiding the tears as they began to streak down her cheeks. Embarrassment trudged across her insides.

Meds and coffee forgotten, Percy knelt before his wife, taking her hands in his he tilted her head up. He brushed a knuckle across her cheek, wiping away her tears.

"What happened in your dreams? What's wrong?" He asked, but it came out more like a demand. The need to care for his wife rose in his chest.

"Perce, this has been a hard pregnancy. What if it's an even harder labor? I could die, the baby could die. I'm scared Percy, what if we lose her?"

He bowed and shook his head. He hated this conversation. Every time she brought it up, he shut down. They had it three other times prior, after the doctor had spoken to them about the what-ifs. He listened to the doctor respectfully then, but any time she tried to bring it up he'd find some reason to be busy. Now the due date was right around the corner, there was no running anyway anymore. He was so patient with her, but he changed so much over the last year.

"My dreams, my stepmom-"

"You are not her. We won't lose the baby, and I won't lose you," he assured her, determination in his voice. He believed it too, but she wasn't convinced. She had spotting throughout her pregnancy, and during the seventh month, they had that scare. No, she wasn't convinced at all. Doom pervaded her thoughts.

"I think we need to game plan for all possibilities Percy, get our affairs in order."

"Annbeth, I promise-"

"I need to write a will, and write a list of my passwords to my financial accounts."

"Anne, please."

"If anything happens and you have to choose one of us, choose the baby. Okay?"

"Damn it, Annie! No!" Percy yelled, shooting back to his feet. It caused her to jump. He ran his shaking hands through his hair as the rise in his temper caused the plumbing in the kitchenette to start whining. Annabeth fell silent. His warm body heat disappeared from in front of her. She hadn't noticed the chill in their small apartment before. Had the emptiness always been there? She didn't remember it.

He paced quietly, touching his fingers to the pad of his thumb repetitively. He took a breath. "There's no writing a will and I don't need your passwords. I'm not losing you, and we're not having this conversation. You want a plan for everything. Just let it go, will you?"

Annabeth's eyes burned. Her anger started to rise as her hands balled into fists. When did the disconnect between them start? They used to be able to talk about anything; every fear, every worry, every moment of life they shared. Now, there was a disconnect. Now, only some things were shared. Now, only some things were talked about.

"We need to discuss this," Annabeth begged. "Why are you so determined to ignore it?!"

"Because it's impossible! We've been through so much! We deserve to have the happily ever after, Annie, and you're determined to remind me every chance we get that it might not happen. I am trying to hang onto any and every shred of happiness we have. We haven't had to fight monsters in years, last I checked, the world wasn't ending right now."

"Percy I could die! I know you want to pretend we're immune to tragedy since everything has calmed down, but we are humans first before we're demigods."

Percy grabbed the counter, his eyes swimming frantically as his breath picked up. "I cannot talk about this," he coughed. He swore and held his chest tightly, the faucet bursting suddenly. Annabeth sobbed quietly as shame got her to her own feet. She cupped his face and pressed their foreheads together. He grabbed her arms to steady himself, trying to get his bearings before his panic attack took him over the edge.

Memories of the past flashed behind his vision. Instinctively he reached for a pen in his pocket that wasn't there.

"Count," she said. "One, two, three, four-"

"Five, six, seven, eight," he finished.

They did this for a couple of minutes until he was grounded again. His wife sighed. She was confused. On one hand, she didn't want to be the cause of his panic attacks. On the other, she was angry and felt unheard, and she wouldn't forgive that quickly. They were butting heads. They did that now. It was like their parents were at odds again, only this time it was them. They loved each other. They were so close and yet they were starting to hurt each other. Pregnancy should have brought them closer, and yet they hadn't been further, short of when they first met.

"I promise you, everything will be fine." He huffed. "The gods owe us that much." The water had since stopped rushing like a geyser, but she would need to fix it. Again. She watched it trickle slowly, wanting to scream but knowing it was useless.

"Fine," she relented, deciding she'd choose anger for the day. If he didn't want to talk then they wouldn't. "I'll have a will written for you by the end of today. I'll get it notarized by the end of the week." She grabbed her mug and left him there with his head in his hands.