Prompt 15: Hey, could you make one of Estelle finding out that Percy and Annabeth are demigods?

*Okay, I kind of struggled with this one because I don't feel like they'd hide it from her. I feel like it would be one of those things she's always known. So, after a lot of thinking, I finally came up with this. Hope you enjoy!*

It happened during spring break of his freshman year of college. Percy had come home to New York, catching a ride with Hazel on Arion, since she was visiting Camp Half-Blood as part of the two camps' exchange program. Hazel was going to be spending a week at the Greek camp and Malcolm Pace was going to be at Camp Jupiter for a week. Annabeth had stayed in New Rome to work on a project for one of her architecture classes and to hang out with her demigod brother, who she hadn't seen in a while. Percy had to admit he could understand the appeal, since the main reason he'd wanted to go to New York for a week was to hang out with Estelle.

His one-year-old sister was thrilled to see him. She squealed, patted his face, grabbed his nose, tugged on his ears and hair, and slobbered all over his cheeks and chin in an attempt to give him kisses. Basically, it was an awesome greeting.

The next day, he volunteered to take Estelle to a nearby park, to give his mom and Paul a break. The first part was fun. He pushed Estelle on the swing, grinning back at her when she gave him a drooly, three-toothed smile, her chubby legs kicking excitedly. Then he sat her on his lap to go down the slide. Estelle squealed so loudly that at first he was afraid she was scared, but then he realized she was laughing.

So they went down the slide about seven more times.

Everything was going well. Percy was having a great day with his baby sister. Even the weather was cooperating; it was a sunny, warm, early spring day, the trees just starting to be touched by green.

And then, as they turned the corner a few blocks from their apartment, Percy pushing Estelle in her stroller, he froze.

Skulking in an alleyway, flexing their muscles, were two Laistrygonian ogres. For one moment, Percy thought maybe he could slowly back away unseen.

And then their eyes fell on him. One glared, one grinned, and both pushed away from the alley wall and started moving towards him.

Percy cursed in his head, even as he reached for Riptide and, in the same move, stepped in front of Estelle in her stroller.

"Hey, guys," Percy said, trying to keep his voice casual even as he palmed Riptide, still in pen form. "How's it going?"

"Better now, Perseus Jackson," one of the Laistrygonians rumbled. "Babycakes and I have been hoping you would reappear."

Percy cursed out loud this time as he realized it was one of the ogres who had attacked him years ago during gym class. And, apparently, the monster's girlfriend, who was still glaring at Percy.

"Do you know how annoying it was to have to wait for Joe Bob to reform?" Babycakes crossed her meaty arms, which were tattooed as thoroughly as her boyfriend's.

"Probably really annoying," Percy agreed. "Sorry about that. Anyway, great to see you all again, I'll just be on my way—"

"I don't think so, Perseus Jackson." Joe Bob grinned, showing his crooked, stained teeth. "We were just trying to decide what to do for lunch. And then here you are."

"And you brought a baby," Babycakes cooed. "I love babies."

Percy's skin crawled. His own voice came out like a growl. "No one touches my sister."

The Laistrygonians laughed and prepared to charge. They never got the chance. The moment they threatened Estelle, rage rose like a red hot wave in Percy's chest. With a metallic shink, Riptide appeared in his hands. He leapt forward and, in two swift swipes, he dispatched the giants. They barely had time to look surprised before bursting into piles of monster dust.

"Enjoy Tartarus," Percy muttered. It wasn't something he'd normally say, after having been there himself, but he didn't have any sympathy for monsters that threatened his sister.

Behind him, Estelle gurgled. Percy turned to look at her, Riptide still in his hands. Estelle was smiling and drooling as she chewed on her hand. When she saw him looking at her, she squealed happily and held out her arms. Percy scanned the street, but when he didn't see any additional threats, he capped his sword, slipped the pen back in his pocket, and reached down to unbuckle Estelle from her stroller. His hands were shaking when he picked her up. She didn't seem to notice. Instead, she babbled and patted his face. Percy managed a smile. "Come on, Estelle. Let's get home before we run into any other problems."

His mom and Paul were still out when Percy and Estelle got home. His little sister started to whine as soon as they got in the door, so after Percy had shut, and locked, it, he bounced her on his hip, which she usually liked. But Estelle wasn't having it right now. So Percy changed his hold until he was cradling her against his shoulder. Estelle nuzzled her face against his shoulder and one small hand gripped his shirt as she continued to whine. Percy patted her back, then, cuddling her against his chest, headed to the kitchen to make her a bottle.

After she fell asleep while drinking her bottle, Percy stayed on the couch, just holding her for a while. Even though he'd dispatched the monsters easily enough, the fact remained that, just for a minute, his baby sister, his fully mortal baby sister, had been in danger. Because of him. And that wasn't a good feeling.

Finally, Percy stood up, Estelle fast asleep in his arms, and carried her to her crib. Giving her a featherlight kiss on the forehead, he laid her down and tucked her in. Then he headed across the hall to the bathroom and closed the door. Sitting on the edge of the tub, he turned on the shower and used his powers to arc the water, letting it catch the rays of late afternoon sunlight coming through the window, creating a rainbow. Tossing in a drachma, he said, "Oh Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering. Show me Annabeth Chase at New Rome University."

The rainbow shimmered. A few moments later, Annabeth appeared. Luckily, she was alone, sitting at her desk in her dorm room, absorbed in sketching. The sunlight coming through the window made her blonde hair glow. Percy watched her for a moment, already feeling a little better. But finally, when she didn't look up, he said, "Hey."

Annabeth jumped. When she saw him, though, an easy smile crossed her face. "Hey, Seaweed Brain." The smile faded, though, as she studied his face. "What's wrong?"

"Had a little bit of a run-in with some Laistrygonians." He told Annabeth about what had happened, how he'd been on his way back from the park with Estelle, how the monsters had surprised him, how he'd dispatched them with no problem, but how he couldn't get rid of the sick feeling in his stomach quite as easily.

"I just—" Percy ran a shaky hand over his face and through his hair, "I just can't get past the fact that Estelle was in danger because she was with me."

Annabeth tilted her head, as if thinking. Her gray eyes were intense as she'd listened to his story, but now they softened as she said, "I have a slightly different take on it. I'd say Estelle was never really in danger because she was with you."

Percy shook his head. "That sounds good, but it's not true. If they'd gotten the jump on me or something—"

"Percy." Annabeth's voice was a little more stern. She leaned forward on her desk, closer to the I-M. "You once blew up a volcano. Not to mention lots of plumbing over the years. You don't think you could blow up a New York City water main to wipe out some monsters if Estelle was in danger?"

Percy took a leaf out of her book and rolled his eyes. "Well, yeah, probably, but that's not—"

"That's exactly the point, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth's expression was earnest as she locked eyes with him. "I'm not letting you beat yourself up about this one. Could something potentially happen to Estelle that would be absolutely out of your control? Yes, possibly. But would you do literally everything in your power to keep her safe? Absolutely. And you have a lot of power to call on, Percy. More than you even recognize sometimes. Your little sister is as safe with you as she's going to be with anybody. Trust me. I know you."

Percy blinked hard and cleared his throat. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." He managed a smile at his girlfriend. "I believe you."

"Good." Annabeth returned his smile. "I am sorry that happened, though. It sounds like a scary moment."

"It did scare me," Percy admitted, running his hand through his hair again. He exhaled. "Just more to lose, you know?"

"I know." Annabeth raised her hand, just barely touching the Iris-message, so that it looked like her fingers were melting into the rainbow. Percy raised his hand to hers and it almost seemed like their palms were touching, even three thousand miles apart.

Naturally, Estelle chose that moment to start fussing from her crib across the hall.

"Uh-oh," Percy said. "That might be my cue."

"Give her a kiss for me. I love you." Annabeth blew him a kiss. "Enjoy your visit, babe. It's going to be okay."

"Thanks, Wise Girl. Love you, too."

Percy did feel better, even as he swiped through the I-M and Annabeth's image faded. He turned off the shower, then headed across the hall to Estelle's room. She was standing up in her crib, hair nap-mussed, whining around her pacifier. But when she saw him, her entire tiny face lit up and her pacifier nearly fell out as she smiled. Percy felt a pang in his chest, but it wasn't a bad feeling.

"Hey, Estelle," he said as he crossed the room to scoop her up. "Good nap?"

She burbled happily to him and Percy couldn't help grinning.

He kissed one of her chubby cheeks. "That one's from Annabeth." Then he kissed the other. "And that's from me. I love you, Estelle. And I'm always going to protect you. Don't worry about that."

His baby sister tugged on his ear and squealed. Percy figured she got the message.

"Let's check out the kitchen," he told her. "I think there's a jar of mashed carrots with your name on it."

He kissed the top of her head as he carried her down the hall. Annabeth was right, he couldn't totally control every situation. But he would always do everything in his power to keep his little sister safe.