Percy

With Annabeth laying down for a nap, Charlie's getting passed around like a football. Everyone loves her as much as I expected them to, and she is all joy and laughter. I feel like my heart explodes every time I hear her giggle. It's different than when Luke was born in so many ways. For one, although Luke was loved immediately by everyone, there was always a shadow of Anxiety about his mom. With Charlie, it's pure joy in the air. And I realize it's a different love for a son and a daughter. For Luke, I'm excited for him to grow up, for him to go from being a boy to a man, to train him to be better than I ever was at everything. I'd die for my son if I needed to, but I want him to be able to fight his own battles. With Charlie, I can already tell I'm going to have to fight the instinct every day for the rest of my life to lock her in the house with me so I can protect her from every danger that exists. For her, I'd kill any monster or human I need to without blinking an eye or a second thought. But I know I can't always be there every second, so she'll be training with a blade as soon as she can hold one. Best way to protect her is to teach her to protect herself.

"Can I hold her now, Percy?" Lassa asks me.

"Of course! I'm honestly surprised you weren't first in line." I say, and get my daughter, placing her in her aunt's arms. Jesse Sits close beside her, stroking Charlie's cheek.

"She's so beautiful." Lassa says, not looking away from Charlie. "I-" She hiccups. "I-" This time she clenches her mouth shut and gently passes Charlie to Jesse before getting up and hurrying to the bathroom. I look around to see if anyone else noticed, but they're all preoccupied. Looking over at Jesse, I smile.

"Is she?" I ask. He smiles, holding my daughter closer.

"Yeah. We didn't want to announce it yet, not until Charlie was introduced to everyone. But yeah. She's due January 16th."

"That's awesome, Jesse!" I say, genuinely excited. "When are you planning on telling everyone?"

"Well her family comes first." He laughs. "She's telling them tomorrow after church. Then word can trickle out as it may. We told Poseidon as soon as we saw him here, though."

"That's awesome. I'm so happy for Y'all. You better start using the house you have up here more."

"We probably will." He admits. "I love being a fireman, but I think I'll be glad to work as a sword instructor here. I want this kid to grow up safe."

"He will." I assure him. "Or she. Or They, if Jason and Piper are any indication."

"Twins? Man, that would be incredible!" He says.

A second later the doorbell rings, snapping me out of my thoughts. I shake my head and smile at my daughter back in Jesse's arms, and get up to head to the door. When I open it, I see Rachel standing there with a huge smile on her face, but panting for breath.

"Sorry I'm late!" She says and gives me a hug.

"No problem at all, Rach." I say and hug her back. "Come on and meet her. Try to be quiet though, Annabeth's taking a nap."

"Of course." She says softly. "I can't believe she and Piper had the kids on the same day. And Piper has twins!"

"I know. It's crazy. So how's NYU?" I ask as we walk to the living room.

"Fantastic. I've joined a sorority that's main charity work is tied to environmental works, so that's been a lot of fun."

"You? Rachel Elizabeth Dare, you joined a sorority?"

"Oh Please, Percy, there's nothing wrong with it. Like I said, I joined it for the environmental charities."

"Okay. Just seems a little out of the norm for our alt individual artist oracle."

"I'm still an alt individual artist oracle." She smiles, bumping me with her hip. "I just joined a group for once."

"Okay." I shrug as we walk into the living room. "Jesse, mind handing Charlie over to-?" I stop when I see Rachel freeze in her trance and green smoke spewing out of her mouth. Oh no. Fear grips my body.

Not a prophecy about my daughter, God! Not this soon! Please! I Pray. But Rachel speaks.

The Flesh of Wisdom and Blood of Sea

Starts her Questing at Thirteen

Apollo's gift will be guiding

To stop the monster's ever rising

In her hands lies all demigod's fates

As she aims to close Tartarus' gates

The smoke clears and Rachel starts to collapse, so I catch her and help her sit on the couch.

"Luke, go get Rachel some water. Now!" I tell him. He nods and runs to the kitchen and comes back with a bottle of Annabeth's Smart Water. I look at everyone in the room who's staring at either me, Rachel, or Charlie.

"What-what Prophecy did I just spew out?" Rachel asks and sits up on her own after a couple sips of water.

"It sounded like the next Great Prophecy." Chiron says grimly, anxiety shooting through me. My father nods, frowning. I move and take Charlie from my mother so I can hold her in my arms. It helps, but not much, especially since she starts crying immediately. She can feel my fear.

"Well…" My mother says gently. "It says it won't start until she's thirteen. Quests typically start in the summertime, so maybe it'll be when she's closer to her 14? You have time."

"I'm going to go take her to Annabeth." I say. "Everyone look at me." They all meet my eyes. "Other than Jason and Piper, Not a word to anyone about this. Not until Annabeth and I say otherwise. I don't want my daughter growing up with every half blood knowing their fate will be in her hands when she's 13. Understand?" I tell them. They nod.

"I'm-I'm so sorry, Percy." Rachel whispers. I sigh.

"Not your fault, Rach. You can't control the prophecy." I tell her. She sniffles and nods.

"It'll be okay." I squeeze her shoulder with my free hand then head into the bedroom. I put Charlie down in the bassinet and sit next to Annabeth on the bed. Gently as I can, I shake her shoulder awake.

"Annabeth?"

"Percy?" She stretches and yawns. "Oh, Charlie's crying. Help me up, I'll nurse her."

"That's not why she's crying." I say. "Rachel just got here."

"Okay?" She sits up. "Percy, what's wrong?"

"I'm scared, Annabeth, that's why she's crying. She could feel it."

"Percy, you're scaring me. What happened?" She asks, tense and alert now.

"The second Rachel laid eyes on her the Spirit of Delphi took hold." I explain, and her face falls.

"No."

"I'm afraid so, Wise Girl. Charlie's the subject of the next Great Prophecy."