Chapter Five

"Jason and I broke up."

Annabeth looked up from her spot on the grass by the lake. She had a free moment for once to read, even though the copy of 'The Field Guide to Pregnancy: Navigating New Territory with Research, Remedies, and Recipes' was slightly embarrassing and she immediately had a blanket to cover it, she had still enjoyed the quiet and the calm. Now, there was no calm.

Piper stood before her, tears streaming down her face, snot pouring out of her nose, and her t-shirt snug against her three-month pregnant belly. Jason and Piper had been on a shaky foundation for a long time. Especially after Piper's attempted abortion that had landed her in the infirmary two months ago, fighting for her life. Annabeth loved Piper-she had become her best friend on the Argo II, but even Annabeth had seen the girl run Jason over for things that were out of his control.

"Are you okay?" Annabeth asked, patting the seat next to her. "What happened?"

"I just couldn't take it anymore," Piper admitted, gratefully taking a seat. "So I ended things."

"What couldn't you take anymore? Annabeth pried gently.

"Him," Piper whispered. "I know it's unfair. Every time I look at him all I can imagine is being in Aphrodite's temple again, watching him over and over screw other women. Or-or if it's not that, all I can see is how we failed Leo. And-and he's just so calm about it. He's so calm about everything."

Jason's calm demeanor during fights or crises could be incredibly annoying to Piper, Annabeth thought. She remembered their last quest together and how emotional and impulsive Piper had been. It had worked- but it had taught Annabeth a lot about her friend. Annabeth could see how she would view Jason as cold for his lack of emotion and his tendency to lean on thought out, strategic logic.

"I just want to feel fought for," she said in a small voice. "And it's like he doesn't even care enough to raise his voice."

Annabeth put a comforting hand on Piper's. "You know that's not true, Piper. Jason loves you."

"I know," Piper admitted. "I-I just feel like we need a break. To know each other without Hera, without all of this going on."

"I hear you," Annabeth said slowly, trying to figure out the kindest way for her to word this. "But if you and Jason can figure out how to work on these hard times together, your relationship will only be stronger."

"How are we supposed to work through this, Annabeth?" Piper asked, her voice cracking. "You're pregnant with his baby. So is Hazel, and his fucking stepmom. I went behind his back after lying to him, screaming at him, and being a shitty girlfriend on the brink of insanity and got an abortion. I don't know how to fix my broken relationship, and I'm the daughter of the goddess of love."

Annabeth put a hand absentmindedly on her growing belly. She had grown used to the presence inside of her, the growing being who would change her life forever. But like Jason, she had accepted it and moved on. This was her life now, another puzzle for her to solve.

"I don't know everything," Annabeth admitted. "Percy and I haven't walked through anything like this before, but what I do know is that you have a choice. Be a team, or break off. The sooner you get through the tough stuff the better, because there is always tougher stuff coming. But each thing you walk through, you get stronger."

Piper leaned her head on Annabeth's shoulder. There was a sense of peace between them. They had grown close before the Argo II, and even closer on their journey to defeat Gaea. But since the war, for obvious reasons, things had been awkward. Both of them were going through a lot; Annabeth still trying to survive nights after Tartarus, being thrown into a spell-bound orgy, finding out that she was raising another man's baby from spell-bound orgy, and the general pain of going through her second war. She hadn't even recovered from the first one. Gods, she needed a therapist.

But for now, Piper trusted her. Annabeth trusted Piper's heart-that was for sure, and she tried hard to have grace for her. Piper had watched her father go crazy and erased his memories, she had endured her own version of the Giant War, and had watched her boyfriend have sex with three other women.. Sure, it was forced, but that didn't take from the trauma of it all. Now, she was facing her first loss of a friend. At this point, Annabeth had lost so many friends, she almost had a routine. She'd loved Leo, but she'd also loved Silena, and Charles, and gods, she'd really loved Luke.

But if Annabeth stepped back, and remembered when she had thought she'd lost Thalia forever-she understood. She could picture how much grief ate away at the very utmost parts of her soul. She had learned to grow callouses against death, and had built walls against darkness, not so her heart was cold and stony, but so she could survive. She would soften like leather, but leather also couldn't break. It had to be treated so it wouldn't, and she treated her heart with care and caution. Piper would learn, too, or she would die of grief. It was the harsh truth of the demigod life, but Annabeth lived by truth. She knew her limits; she knew that there was only one grief that would utterly destroy her, and that was losing Percy.

"This is the demigod life, Piper," she said cautiously. "You were thrown into it late in the game, and I'm sorry about that considering you were thrown into some of the deepest shit we go through. Most demigods don't go through this much in a lifetime, let alone within a year of finding out their heritage."

Annabeth paused to look out at the water, thinking of the best way to get her words across. She couldn't quite explain this calm that was about her, and she could guess it was the same calm that Jason was exuding that was pissing off Piper. When you're in the storm for so long, it just begins calm after awhile, and you find the joy where you can.

"I have a very different upbringing than you. I've lived life never catching a break-which sounds like I'm calling your previous life easy, I'm not. This is hard, but I've been blessed to be in it for a long time, and I've survived it for a long time, and all these things being thrown at me, I can take. Because it will either be okay or it won't. I'll die or I won't. It's a freeing way to live-and it's the only way to live for a demigod." She looked over at Piper, who had tears swimming in her eyes.

"Annabeth, that's an awful way to live," Piper said, and Annabeth cocked her head at her. "Is it really worth it?"

"Life is always worth it," Annabeth responded. "These are the moments that make it worth it. My friends, my siblings, Percy. It's why this whole idea of having a baby isn't so terrible. Obviously, in an ideal world, I'd be married to Percy, the baby would be his, and we'd have some sort of foundation so stand on, but I don't know if I'd even made it that far, anyways. Life is life, Piper. The way it goes isn't up to me, I've come to terms with that. I think, if you don't mind me saying, Jason came to terms with that as a child. He's seasoned, Piper, and while that seems cold, it's how you survive. Not only survive, but how you thrive in this fucked up ride we call life."

Piper was silent for awhile next to her. Annabeth hoped that she hadn't come off too cold. But Piper had to know this if she was going to keep surviving. And she had to survive; As Asclepius said, the abortion hadn't worked. Piper was as pregnant as she was, but now at much more of a risk death by childbirth. If her mind was weak, her spirit crushed with grief, Annabeth wasn't sure she could survive it.

"I-I just don't know if that's the kind of life I want to live," Piper said after awhile. "I just don't know who I am anymore, where I stand in this world."

"You don't have too, Piper," Annabeth responded. "That's the beauty of living free. You just choose joy. You don't have to mean anything, you don't have to know exactly who you are, you just experience the good while you can and live in gratitude for it."

"Maybe you're right, Annabeth," Piper sighed. "But I have to try things my way. I have to figure out my own life."

Annabeth turned her head away to look at the water again. She had said enough, now. Things were up to Piper to choose.

"I'm going to visit my dad in LA," she told Annabeth. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I-I think I'll have space to think while I'm there."

"Do you think it's wise to take the journey alone?" Annabeth asked her, a prick of annoyance. "I know you're on rocky terms, but maybe Jason-"

"Jason doesn't know about this, and I ask you to make sure it stays that way until I'm gone," Piper responded, her tone edgy.

Annabeth had never been one to be scared of conflict. For one, in this situation she knew she was right, and Piper was making a wildly foolish decision. Piper was responsible for herself, and not only that, but her baby now. Jason's baby. Like it or not, they were all tied to Jason in a way, and he did have the right to know where and what they were doing, even if he didn't have the right to make the decision.

"We both know this is a very unwise decision," Annabeth said flatly.

"I'll be fine, Annabeth," Piper responded, rolling her eyes. "It's just to LA. I'll take a flight. What's Zeus going to do? Strike me down with his grand-baby floating around in here? Demigods live a normal life all the time, and survive."

"You're allowed to do whatever you want," Annabeth said. "But know this, victors of war become cocky really quickly. Keep being vigilant. Always be vigilant, or you and your baby will be living in the underworld."

Piper never made it even packing her bags. When Frank Zhang in the form of a gray dragon flew into Camp Half-Blood, Hazel Levesque falling so hard from his back Percy and Jason had to catch her, Annabeth guessed Piper would at least stay to hear the story.

"We have a lot to talk about," Frank said, turning back into his human self, and putting an arm around Hazel. "I hope you don't mind. What remains of Camp Jupiter and New Rome are on their way."

Percy went pale. "What do you mean, remains?"

"Tarquin and his legion of the undead overtook us three days ago," Frank explained. "We barely won, but then Caligula came in for a second attack. Very few remain of us."

"Let's go to my cabin," Percy said. "Chiron's away for a little bit, and we should hold this meeting in privacy."

Annabeth agreed, and Percy motioned for Jason and Piper to follow them. Frank and Hazel limped along to Percy's cabin, where Hazel sunk heavily on a cot, and Annabeth finally noticed how injured their friends really were. Frank was bleeding out of his shoulder, and while Hazel looked less harmed, she had a scratch on her cheek.

Jason somehow had first aid supplies on him, and started helping Frank out of his armor. Frank sighed fora second clearly trying to catch his breath. There were dark circles under his eyes, and a slumpiness that told Annabeth he had over exerted himself to get him and Hazel here safely.

"It's gone," Hazel whispered. "The Roman Emperors have risen again, and they went after Camp Jupiter first. Caligula called us traitors, and he slaughtered us. I was able to take the Fifth Legion and evacuate the women and children, and most of them got away safe, but we lost some of them."

Jason looked up from dressing Frank's wound, and his electric eyes were bright. "They are traveling here, now?"

"Reyna and the rest of the legion are leading them here," Frank said. "Honestly, I should get back there. I needed to get Hazel here, and warn you obviously. I'm sure Caligula is coming here next. He was coming for you, Jason."

"Why?" Jason asked, his eyes clouding over.

"Because you're the Pontifex Maximus," Frank said. "You've been appointed by a goddess, and even Caligula knows that you outrank him."

Jason rubbed his forehead. "I'll have to draw him away from here, then."

"I'll go with you," Percy offered, and Jason shook his head.

"No, you stay at camp," he murmured. "But I should take Thalia with me."

"Jason, you can't take on an emperor with just your sister," Annabeth pointed out, though secretly, she did think Percy should stay here and protect camp.

"I've had visions of the labyrinth. And I'm sure this is all tied in," he admitted. "Obviously, the oracles have been down since Gaea, but I think they've been stolen. I need to talk to Apollo. Gods, why can't the gods be more accessible?"

It was one of the first times Annabeth had heard Jason complain, or even have frustration in his voice. Maybe that's why an Olympian did show up. Of course, it wasn't the one they needed, but it was the one who did seem to help Jason a lot. Queen Hera stood before them, though maybe this was Juno. She was wearing a goatskin cloak.

"We meet again, my heroes," she said, and Piper rolled her eyes. "I am the Messenger for the gods, Ms. Mclean, so I have a right to be here."

"Alright, Juno, what do you have to tell us?" Jason asked, and Annabeth snickered. Sarcasm looked good on Jason.

"Is that the way to talk to the mother of your child?" Juno asked, running a hand down the slight bump in her abdomen.

"Is that a way to talk to your priest?" Jason snapped back, and even Piper looked impressed. "Juno, has Apollo sent you?"

Juno's eyes softened the longer Jason looked at her. Her eyes looked sad, and her hand ran down her belly again. Jason watched her, and Annabeth watched his eyes glued on his unborn child writhing inside of the goddess.

"The oracles have been stolen, captured," Juno said. "Beyond that, the Fates will not allow me to say. Jason, you must defeat Caligula if you want to win this war."

"What war?" He whispered. "What war are we fighting now?"

"You fight not with the emperors," Juno warned. "They are just the first obstacle. You fight for Olympus, Jason. Only you can save it."

One of Percy's lightbulbs exploded, and Piper jumped at the glass shards. Jason's hands were in fists.

"Why, Juno? If I fight this long and this hard, I should know why. They should know why. They've fought long and hard." Jason motioned around. His voice was steady despite the exploding electrical sockets, and the smell of burning wires. "Tell me why this is worth it."

Juno laid a gentle hand on Jason's cheek, and as for as angry as Jason seemed, he didn't push it away. Instead he kept her gaze, a look so much like Annabeth's own eyes in the mirror after Tartarus in his electric blue eyes.

"The Fates have not been kind to you," Juno told him. "But you know your duty, my patron."

"I do not fight for Olympus," Jason said, a tear running down his face. "You know I'd let it burn in hell."

Juno did not draw away from her stepson. A tear fell down her own cheek as she looked at him.

"Then don't, Son of Rome. I have not fought for Olympus since Jupiter made me his bride. Do as I do, fight for your children. Thalia has always been Zeus's. But you, Jason, have always been mine. Fight not for your father, fight for your offspring."

Juno was gone after that, leaving Jason standing there, tears dripping down his eyes before turning to face them. again. His look was fierce as he drew a breath.

"Let's discuss how to take down this motherfucker," he said. "Caligula will pay his price for destroying Rome."

Annabeth noticed he didn't say the new in front of Rome. She also noticed that this was the first time she'd heard Golden Boy swear in something other than Latin. Maybe this had effected Jason more than Piper thought.

"Percy, you and Reyna stay here to protect camp," Jason directed, and when Percy protested, Annabeth chose to support Jason.

"If Camp Half-Blood falls, this is over," she pointed out and Percy slumped back. "Juno was clear, this is Jason's journey."

"I am taking Frank, though," Jason said. "The Hunters are due to stop by tomorrow, and I'm taking Thalia with me, too."

"Who died and made you in charge?" Reyna asked, though Annabeth could tell it was a joke. "Good luck getting Thalia to do anything..."

Annabeth had to agree. Thalia was as stubborn as Zeus, and Zeus never let up. Even if his reasoning was terrible.

Jason smirked. "I'll convince her."

Watching Thalia and Jason made Annabeth know them both a bit better. Thalia was like an okder soster to Annabeth, but she was really Jason's older sister. And damn, even though Jason was sixteen now, Thalia spoiled the hell out of him. As no nonsense as she was, Annabeth had never seen Thalia say no to Jason (not that Jason ever made outlandish requests-usually just more quality time), and Jason would follow her around like a lost puppy, a dorky smile on his face while Thalia fed him candy. It was cute.

Gods, then Annabeth remembered that she'd have to tell Thalia that she was pregnant. And so was Piper, and Hera. Thalia was going to be pretty pissed off about that.

"So, if Frank, Thalia, and I at least check out the maze, we should have a better idea of where to go from there. We just have to keep in communication. With the Hunters, you three, and the legion, we should have a good round of defense," Jason explained.

"And you're really going to convince the hunters to stay?" Percy asked, clearly still moping, and clearly very skeptical. "How are you going to do that?"

"By asking them nicely," Jason said, as though it was obvious. "The hunters love me."

"Yeah, they're really going to love you once they find out about your baby mamas," Percy snickered, and Annabeth smacked him.

Jason laughed, and then adjusted his glasses. "Well, Artemis and I have been communicating a little, and if she still talks to me."

"You've been communicating with Artemis?" Annabeth asked.

"Pontifex thing, I think. I'd never talked to anyone but Juno before that," Jason said, shrugging. "Anyways, we've been discussing about how Apollo went missing."

Annabeth blinked at him, and Jason looked sheepish.

"I wasn't trying to hide things, I thought I told you that," he said. "Anyways, Artemis says it has nothing to do with Zeus. She told me he's gone all on his own."

"That's weird," Percy said. "Apollo's very vain, so it surprises me that he left the luxury of Olympus."

Jason shrugged. "I was hoping he could help me with this whole oracle thing."

"Will we have help at all?" Percy asked, and Jason winced.

"From what I'm getting from Artemis, probably not this time." Jason rubbed his forehead. "Not like the gods are ever super helpful, though, unfortunately, Juno may be our main ally. She has the most at stake."

Reyna clapped her hands together. She looked bright considering her home had been destoryed days ago and she'd spent the last couple weeks trudging through America to New York. Maybe it was because she had a mission. Annabeth thoight it must be nice to have a mission.

"Percy, mind if we take a look around camp and see what defenses we can set up?" She asked, and Percy nodded. "Frank, I know you're going with Jason, but I could use you, too."

Frank nodded, and the three of them took off from the outside of Jason's cabin. Annabeth sat back in her chair, and Jason glanced at her.

"Do you think this is foolish of me?" He asked her, his facade of confidence clearly fading. "Am I leading Frank and me to our deaths?"

Annabeth smiled. "Whenever we lead, we always lead ourselves to death, Jason. You just have to escape it."

"You'll keep out of the main lines, right?" He asked her, glancing at the bump in her shirt. "I mean if war comes."

Annabethe studied him. He was tired, and clearly concerned. They hadn't talked much about the pregnancy or the baby one on one. There had been too much. Too much grief over Leo, too much of Piper and Jason fighting, and now, the threat of war so soon after the first one. Or perhaps, Gaea was just the first battle, and they'd finally entered war.

"Yeah, I'll stay back from the main lines," Annabeth whispered, words she never thought she'd say escaping her mouth. "This baby has made me docile."

Jason smiled at her, his eyes still on her slightly swollen middle. "Nah, she'll make you stronger."

"She?" Annabeth asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Her only prenatal care so far had been Will Solace. Though he had been sympathetic, he was clearly excited to be taking care of something medically different than war wounds, and Annabeth had heard him tell multiple people that he actually was anticipating birth. Did she feel like Will's project? Sure. Did she care that much? No time.

That being said, there were no ultrasounds. She was going to be sent for some mortal scans soon, but ever sonce the Romans had gotten here, they had decided it best for her and Piper to stay at camp. Of course, Piper had left plenty of times outside of everyone's advice and Jason's clear opinion, but Annabeth knew her own limits. Did she wish she knew more about the human literally growing inside of her? Yes. But she couldn't do anything about it.

"Just a hunch," Jason said, blushing a little. "I think you're having a girl, and Hera's having a boy."

"And the other two?" Annabeth asked. She had the opposite hunch. She was showing the most out of all of them, and she'd read that boys tended to be bigger. "I think it's a boy."

"I have no idea about Hazel or Piper," Jason said, his voice distant when he spoke Piper's name. "So I guess we should figure out names, soon."

Annabeth looked out at camp, watching a couple Ares kids spar and yell at each other. The November air was crisp, though sixty degrees in November on Long Island was pretty incredible.

"I don't want to name them after anyone who's died," she blurted out. "Other than Leo, and we had vastly different relationships with him, we share no grief. You do not know the people I grieve for, and I do not know the people you grieve for."

"Okay," Jason said. "That's reasonable. From what Piper and I talked about, we decided to name that baby Leo or Lea anyways. Well, that was before we broke up, so I don't know if anything's changed."

"Have you guys spoken about anything?" Annabeth asked gently.

"We've spoken about Caligula. I asked her to look in Katropis," Jason said. "And she saw Frank, Thalia, and I in a burning maze. But I had alrwady seen myself in the labryinth. Other than that, no. She's struggling, Annabeth. I have no idea how to help her."

His voice sounded broken. Annabeth looked at him, his jaw tight, eyes distant. He was heartsick.

"I think I'm going to lose her," he admitted. "I just don't know to what."

"Give her time," Annabeth said. "Either she'll cope or she won't. You're not going to change the outcome, whether your right or not. Only she can do that."

He gave a short nod. "Anyways, names."

"Right," Annabeth said, thinking. "I also don't want to name him or her after a god or goddess."

"Agreed," Jason responded quickly. "I know this is naming her after someone, but do you mind if we incorporate Thalia into her name if it's a girl? Thalia talks to you as if you're her little sister, and since she is my sister..."

"Okay," Annabeth agreed, thinking that was reasonable. "We could do a middle name if it's a girl."

Annabeth realized that this life might not be as hard as she thought it would be. That is, if they lived long enough.