A/N: lmao? sup friends.

It takes Percy and Annabeth a solid forty-eight minutes to arrive at Camp Half-Blood. Percy is still slightly pissed.

"We could've gotten here in forty," he grumbles, dragging a suitcase out of the trunk. He sets it down with a heavy clunk. "Even thirty-eight! But nooo. That stupid monster didn't know how to drive. You'd think in this day and time all monsters would have passed their driver's tests and deserve their licenses."

"Percy, you care about driving too much," Annabeth says as she takes out a backpack from the backseat. It has some basic demigod essentials in it, such as ambrosia and nectar, along with some snacks for when Annabeth got hungry. Even now, the cravings still come and go. On it are two pins: one of an owl with glasses, and the other of a fish with sunglasses. ("I thought you threw my cool fish dude pin away!")

She's had this backpack throughout most of her quests. Pregnancy is just another quest to Annabeth, really. And another one that she's going to survive and come out alive.

"Yeah, I know," Percy replies and takes out the other suitcase, closing the trunk by going on his tippy-toes and pulling it down with his chin.

"I could've done that," Annabeth points out.

Percy pauses and looks at her. Blinks. "But, you're pregnant."

"I'm pregnant, yes. Not disabled, Percy. I can still move my hands." To prove her point, she raises a hand and waves it. Classic jazz hands.

Percy's practically mystified, and still suspicious. "I'm still not letting you carry these suitcases."

Annabeth crosses her arms. "Fine. See you at camp." And she spins on her heel, walking away.

Percy watches her and yells, "See you at camp!" And turns, trudging through the soil the opposite direction.

"It's this way, you idiot!" Annabeth screams.

"I'm going the other way!"

"The sign right there says 'CAMP HALF-BLOOD THIS WAY' in Ancient Greek."

"It's lying! It lies!"

"Get over here, Percy!"

He groans dramatically, turns back around, and starts walking in Annabeth's direction. He stares at his car when he walks by it. Hopefully, the nymphs remembered to keep his car safe. And Peleus could always protect it, too.

"I'm gonna break my water by the time you get here! Move it!" And Annabeth pauses before yelling out, "Don't you know you're dying?"

Percy groans again.

Once they reach camp's borders, and pass through the looming arch above them, Percy feels invigorated and at peace at the same time. Safe, he feels safe. When he looks at Annabeth on his right, and the serene look on her face, he knows she feels the same as well.

They practically walk hand-in-hand, but their suitcases take up both of Percy's hands, so they're shoulder-to-shoulder, which counts for something, right?

Percy catches view of the Big House, still standing proudly after all these years. Pegasi fly in the sky, lava flows down the climbing wall, and demigods walk around everywhere—near the stables, in front of their cabins, by the armory. Some give Percy and Annabeth odd, inquisitive looks, as they head toward the Big House. Percy sees a son of Ares tap his older brother's shoulder and move his lips. Said older brother turns around and squints his eyes at Percy, trying to glare menacingly.

He sighs in relief. Nothing has changed.

Carefully steering himself and Annabeth—"I know where I'm going, you soggy lampshade!"—through groups of destructive demigods, they manage to reach the steps of the Big House without any mishaps.

"Chiron!" Percy shouts and smiles once his former mentor waves at him. He takes a step, jams his foot into the next stair, and falls. The suitcases follow his descent, still clutched in his hands.

"Timber," says Mr. D, his words heavy with indifference. He has yet to take his eyes off his game of pinochle, just in case Chiron pulled a fast one and won the game with a single card.

"Oh, my gods," Annabeth says. She walks up the stairs with care, one hand on the railing, and tries her best to avoid stepping on Percy's sprawled out figure. Fights the urge to nudge his stupid head with her foot.

Chiron rolls over to her with small smile, still in his wheelchair form. "Annabeth! Pleasure to see you again. I see Percy is the same, after all these years."

Annabeth nods, laughing a little. "Yeah, Percy's still..." She looks down at him and cocks her head to the side, noticing the drool slipping out of the corner of Percy's mouth. "I think he's unconscious."

Chiron laughs lightheartedly. "Reminds me of the first time he arrived at camp. Less bloody and traumatized, of course. And without the horn clasped in his fist."

Annabeth shakes her head. "At least it was admirable last time. Defeating the minotaur with your bare hands with no training? That's cool. But tripping over stairs? That's embarrassing." Annabeth almost adds And to think I'm bearing his child, but figures that'd be a bit too much.

"I believe we're going to need some Ares kids to help us move Per—our friend Mr. Jackson to the infirmary."

The god clicks his tongue in distaste, placing his cards face-down. "Tch. Just when I was about to win, too."

Chiron places the cards that were in his hands on the table. A flush. "I win."

Mr. D angrily chugs down the rest of his Diet Coke and chucks the empty can at a nearby, unsuspecting satyr. "Don't expect me to not get the ones who have anger problems. If they drop Johnson a few times, its fine by me."

Annabeth opens her mouth to argue, but is cut off.

"C'mon, Anna Belle," Mr. D rolls his eyes exaggeratedly. "Its not like he has anything up there to save. Better for him to be carried off by stupid Ares kids than a pregnant demigod."

He stands up from his chair, walks down the stairs and towards the Ares cabin, already yelling at a select group.

"You know," Chiron starts out. "He does care for your well-being."

"He called me Anna Belle," Annabeth mutters. "After all of these years, you'd think he'd get some names right-"

"You would've wanted to carry Percy to the infirmary, correct?"

Annabeth stumbles over her words. "I—well. I would—I think so? Yes."

"Shouldn't someone in your condition avoid any heavy lifting?"

Annabeth falters. "Yes, of course. But..." She hesitates. Annabeth can't read the expression on Chiron's face and doesn't know what to say next. She can carry him anyway? That'd hurt the baby, she knew that. Couldn't bear to be without him for even a few minutes? She was worried about Percy, yes. Honestly, she was always worried about Percy. She just...

"You're very protective at the moment," Chiron notes. That jars Annabeth out of her thoughts. "Of yourself. The baby. Percy."

Annabeth nods slowly.

Chiron pauses before continuing. "I believe the reason why Dionysus doesn't call anyone by the right name is to avoid being attached. You understand that, don't you, Annabeth? Trying to avoid as many casualties as you can?"

Annabeth nods again, firmly this time. She understands.

"Death happens quick. To a demigod, even quicker. It's good to be on guard, Annabeth. You're a smart girl—of course, any student of mine would be. Especially a daughter of Athena." Chiron winks, and Annabeth chuckles. She remembers the reason why she thought of Chiron as her original father figure.

Chiron sobers up and places a hand on Annabeth's arm. "Just remember, this is the safest place for any demigod. You can relax here."

Annabeth breathes out slowly. Already the weight on her shoulders seem less heavy than before. She spends a few more minutes chatting with Chiron, watching two Ares boys carry Percy off to the infirmary, wincing when the lead Ares girl yells at them for hitting Percy's head on the side of the door on the way there.

"TURN HIS BODY, YOU DOLTS. T-U-R-N." Mr. D yells across the campus.

They get him in. Eventually.

Percy wakes up with a headache, which is a horrible way to wake up. Add that to graveyard breath and mysterious bumps on his forehead, Percy's morning has already turned to schist.

"Finally," he hears a voice breathe out. "Looks like Sleeping Beauty finally decided to wake up."

"I prefer to be called 'Ariel'," Percy manages to retort, a bit groggy. He cracks an eye open, and hazily makes out golden-yellow curls and grey eyes. His mind flashbacks to when he was twelve and beat-up and barely conscious, and when Annabeth was spoon-feeding him nectar, catching whatever dribbled out of his mouth with the spoon. A pretty embarrassing moment, but a happy one, too.

"You're unbelievable. I can't believe you knocked yourself out." Annabeth crosses her arms and huffs. "Well, actually I can, but..."

The corners of Percy's lips quirk up. "What, no kiss?"

Annabeth scoffs. "Kill a monster, and then we'll talk."

Percy pouts, and Annabeth rolls her eyes. She gives him a kiss on the forehead and another one on the corner of his mouth. "I'm glad you're okay, though. I knew you were going to be alright, but I just don't know with you sometimes," Annabeth admits.

"Well," Percy says slowly, mulling what Annabeth said over. "I'm almost always about to die so—"

"What's this about almost always dying?"

"Will!" Annabeth exclaims. "Great to see you, again."

Percy flops his head towards the doorway. "'Sup, Will."

Will hasn't really changed from the last time Percy saw him. He still looks like a stereotypical son of Apollo, but he seems taller to Percy, and more filled out. Or maybe that's because of the angle Percy is looking at him in.

Will acknowledges them with a nod and a smile. "Annabeth, still awesome as usual. Percy, still..." he trails off.

"It's okay," Percy says easily. "Whatever you're about to say, I'm sure I'll hear it from Annabeth a couple of times in the next few days."

"Percy!" Annabeth hisses.

"What? I'm just saying that—OW." Percy clamps his hands over his ears, and Annabeth does the same.

"What," she utters, thoroughly spooked and freaked out, "was that."

"Ah, yes, that was me. Son of Apollo and all that. I whistle, they scream," Will jokes. "I had to get your attention, and I figured that'd be my best bet. Anyway, Percy, you're free to leave in the next fifteen minutes or so. No permanent head injury—"

"Good. He doesn't have any more brain cells to spare."

"Hey!"

"—or busted blood vessels. You basically just pulled a Jason, from the stories Nico has told me, at least. Take it easy, though. Wouldn't want you to get woozy during the day."

Percy opens his mouth to comment, but Annabeth quickly slaps her hand over it. Percy gives her a look like, What did I do? Annabeth's eyebrows say, Get over it.

"Thanks for your help, Will. I'll make sure to drag Percy's butt out of here once those fifteen minutes are up," Annabeth assures. She tries to ignore Percy struggling underneath her palm. There are only so many of his unnecessary comments that she could withstand.

Will smiles big, showing off his perfectly white and straight teeth. "Sweet. I was hoping you were gonna say that. Nico and I were gonna walk to the dining pavilion together for lunch around 12:30. He actually eats balanced meals now, which is great."

Annabeth chuckles. "You better get going then, because it's 12:40, and I don't know if Nico appreciates tardiness."

Will pales. "Oh gods, no."

"Bye, Will. Thanks again."

"Mmph," Percy states. Annabeth takes her hand off his mouth. "That means thank you."

Will gives them both shaky smiles before running out of the infirmary, muttering under his breath about how late he was. Once he's gone, Annabeth stands up from her chair and sits on Percy's bed. Percy moves his legs to make room for her. It's silent for a minute or two, but comfortable. The only thing that annoys Annabeth is the constant ticking of the clock, but she distracts herself by running a hand through Percy's hair. It's extremely calming, and Percy's hair is insanely soft.

Percy hums in contentment. Resting his arms beneath his head, Percy sighs and closes his eyes. "This is strangely relaxing."

"Tell me about it," Annabeth mumbles. They stay like that for a few more minutes, just enjoying the company of each other, until Percy breaks the silence.

"Does this mean Will is his type?" he wonders, staring at the ceiling.

Annabeth looks at him, amused, and says in a playful tone, "Are you still obsessing over—"

"Hey!" Percy interjects as he tries to explain himself, getting up on his elbows. "I just don't understand what he meant. I still don't. And I don't think I ever will unless I, like, ask him or something. Do you think I can ask him? Or would that be too awkward—"

Annabeth interrupts him with a peck on the lips. "Stop worrying about it."

Percy blinks. "Was that my kiss?"

Annabeth pecks him on the lips again, moving away as soon as Percy turns his head to deepen the kiss. "Yes, it was. Your second one, actually. Stop thinking about it—that should be easy for you, right?"

Percy rolls his eyes, but complies. He rests his head back on the pillow, eyes closed, relishing the feeling of Annabeth stroking his hair.