Just a short little chapter, thought I'd give yall and myself a break from writing a 3k-4k word chapter. Next one will be out soon possibly just depends on time managment stuff rn since I'm finishing my summer class next week. Either way hope you guys enjoy this and enjoy the story so far, I have probably another 5 chapters planned at least. I think I'm going to try and make it to 20-25 chapters just depends. Anyway enjoy!

Percy's POV

I was thankful the food smelled and looked so good that I had no choice but to eat it, if not I'm not sure I would've been able to touch a thing. My head was still spinning from finding out that Diana was mine, I didn't understand how I could've missed Annabeth being pregnant before she left. Annabeth and I both did our best to not show that anything was wrong as we finished dinner. The cake and ice cream came out soon after and Diana was ecstatic, she blew out her candles and devoured her slice of cake and scoop of ice cream. After we finished everything up and paid our tab we proceeded to leave.
"This was all really nice of you Piper, and I didn't know they did special things like that for birthdays." Annabeth said as we walked out, she was holding Diana who had passed out from all the sugar.

"Oh I well you're welcome but Percy is the one that allowed all this to be possible, they don't usually do things for children and birthdays, they only did all of this because of who Percy is." Piper said, raising her eyebrows indicating to Annabeth that it was an Olympian based restaurant.

"Oh, well thank you Percy." Annabeth said, sounding surprised yet thankful still. We got to the car and she began getting in it with Diana still asleep in her arms.

"No problem, anything for my daughter." I coldly muttered under my breath, trying to not think of the events of tonight too much. I saw the hurt in Annabeth's eyes from my statement and could tell she had a lot on her mind.

Piper pinched my arm as we entered the car and gave me a look as if to say "give her a break". I rolled my eyes and sat next to Piper, across from Annabeth and a sleeping Diana who was resting her head on Annabeth's lap. I looked at Annabeth and could tell my comment got to her as silent tears streamed down her face while she brushed Diana's hair with her hand.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." I murmured, looking down at my shoes.

"Annabeth let me take Diana in for you when we get home. That way you and Percy can talk." Piper generously offered.

Annabeth nodded in agreement and just kept brushing Diana's hair with her hand. "Good thing we let her open her presents when we got back from the boat." Annabeth said, trying to make a light joke. I snorted in return and smiled.

As we pulled into the driveway the driver opened the door and Piper grabbed Diana from Annabeth and took her to the guest room while Annabeth and I made our way to my room. We sat down next to each other on my bed, Annabeth crossed her legs and turned towards me as I sat forward staring at the floor.

"I…I don't know where to start." Annabeth muttered, looking at me.

"How about you explain why I didn't know you were pregnant before you left and why you kept her if you thought I was such an awful person that didn't even deserve to know he had a daughter?" I angrily said, trying to keep the anger to only my voice.

Annabeth then went on to explain how she had left the day after she found out and that she wasn't sure how to tell me that day before, especially after our fight. She then explained she wasn't sure why she kept Diana, she just knew she couldn't not keep her.

"I think part of me believed you would reach out by the time I had her or that I would get the courage to reach out to you. But that never happened…" Looking down in shame as she talked.

"Why not tell me when I ran into you?" I asked.

"Because I didn't know what to do, so many emotions came to me as I saw you for the first time. Anger was the first one and it's what made me say you weren't. I'm sorry but I didn't know the truth then and when I found out the truth I knew I had to tell you I just…I didn't know how to, and I was scared." She defensively said.

"Percy I didn't mean for you to find out this way at all, I'm sorry, I didn't even think he would say anything. I…I…I can't …can't breathe…." She continued, but as she started not being able to breath I turned towards her concerned.

Her face was getting red and tears were streaming down her face. She was breathing quick shallow breaths and shaking her hands like she was trying to cool off.

"Annabeth, it's okay….it's okay Annabeth. I know you didn't mean for me to find out this way. I'm just…I'm just hurt and upset that's all." I said, hugging her calmly and slowly rubbing her back with my hand. After a couple of minutes like that her breathing slowly calmed and returned to normal. She wrapped her arms around me and dug her face into neck.

"I just wish I could've been there…and finding out from some random stranger, and the way he talked about you and everything…" I continued while hugging her. I felt her slowly nod and start to pull away, she wiped her eyes and looked at me.

"I know, the things I've done lately have not been the best of choices. I…I need help Percy and I will get it, I want to show you that I love you and I want to be with you. I want Diana to have a father but only if you want to be her father. I know it will take time but I will wait and do anything to prove to you that I only want you." She said, still having tears stream from her face now and then.

"I love you and want to be with you too, and that is very strong of you to admit you need help. I will need time Annabeth and I think you do too. And of course I want to be Diana's dad, she's an amazing kid and you've done a great job raising her. I just…I just am not sure on how we are going to do all of this." I said, realizing I still had my arms wrapped around her. As I went to move them she grabbed my arms and looked at me as if to see if I could keep them there. I slowly moved them back as she leaned forward for another hug.

"If you want you can turn a guest room into her room and we can maybe start with having us spend the weekends here while I slowly start leaving her here alone, you know to just warm her up to spending time with you." She suggested as she pulled from the hug again and looked at me.

"Maybe. After telling her I could always just start picking her up from preschool and taking her to your place and watching her until you come home from work. Then maybe in a month we will see about her staying with me some?" I responded.

"Yeah, we can do that." She nodded. I nodded back and just stared off into space, thinking of how my life just changed so much in one evening.

"Percy, are you okay?" Annabeth asked, cocking her head and looking worried.

"Yeah, just a lot to take in…you understand." I said, letting out a little chuckle.

"Come here." She spread her arms as an invitation for a hug. I complied and went in for a hug, this time resting my head on her shoulder. "It's okay to cry, you know?"

I nodded and just let her hold me while I got lost in my thoughts, after a little bit though I started to tear up. Thinking of all the moments I missed, of Annabeth being known as "Angle Annie", how Athena could have kept all of this from happening but didn't. Annabeth looked down at me and saw that I had begun tearing up.

"Would it be okay if we laid down and held each other?" She softly asked. I nodded without hesitation, even after all that had happened I didn't want anyone else but her at the moment. As we laid down and held each I began to cry silently into Annabeth's chest. She rubbed my back and told me that she was sorry. I felt weak at that moment but didn't care, I had lost so much time with a daughter I never knew about and it was all the fault of the gods. Before I knew it though I passed out, still laying on Annabeth and her holding me.

Annabeth's POV

I felt Percy's breathing slow and became more steady as he laid on me. I continued holding him and even turned so I could be on my side and have my arms warped around him. I then heard a knock on the door and looked over as it creaked open.

"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you guys are doing okay." Piper whispered, peeking her head in.

"It's okay, I think so. Percy just fell asleep." I whispered back. "Here if you want you can come and take over."

"No it's okay. You two just sleep in here tonight I'll sleep in the other guest room." She said, coming in and grabbing a change of clothes.

"Are you sure?" I asked, unsure of why she wouldn't want to sleep with Percy tonight.

"Yeah, he needs you right now Annabeth, not me." She reassured me and came over to my side and looked at him before chuckling a little. "Plus he looks rather comfortable with his face in your boobs right now."

I rolled my eyes and thanked her, as she left though I stopped her and asked if Diana was okay. She told me she was and that she didn't even wake up when putting her in her bed. I thanked her again and laid my head back down before dozing off to sleep.