Annabeth:

"Dad!" I smiled as I hugged my father. His hair was greying, and his wrinkles had set into his face. But his eyes were as youthful as I've ever seen him, and the smile on his face was still electric and genuine. Dad looked just like he had years ago, the only difference being the number on his license. He was wearing his usual of kakis, a white button-up being hidden all except for the top by a blue plaid sweater, loafers, and a black business jacket. He had worn basically the same outfit from the time I was five years old.

"Annie, I missed you so much," Dad told me while we were both in a hug. I smirked as we both left the hug, and I crossed my arms.

"Don't call me Annie," I warned him once more.

"I'm your father. I can call you whatever I want, Annie," he smirked.

Like father, like daughter, I thought with a roll of my eyes. It was then that I saw the smiling face of my step-mother. Her beautiful black eyes were shining as she looked at me, and I couldn't help but smile as well. While forever she won't be my mother, I still love her, just like how I love Sally. They're my only mother-figures, I suppose. I have to love them, no matter what.

My step-mother, Karen, was beautiful. Her short, lean frame was maximized by a red, wrap top, a pair of black heels to make her seem taller, wide legged black trousers, and a silver necklace with a ruby pendant. Her black bun was held into place by a bunch of bobby-pins and a matching red clip. Her ruby red lips positioned themselves in a warm smile, and I noticed how she too looked like she had years ago. I felt like the only one who's look had changed, and not for the best.

"Karen," I smiled as she almost tackled me in a hug. Even in her heels, I was a good five inches taller than her.

"Annabeth, you look so beautiful, Darling," she complimented. You know, I really like being around her. She always gives me compliments! Seriously, she always does! Not once has she not when I've come to visit her or she's visited. I don't think I've ever has such a good guest.

"Thanks," I tried not to sound like I loved it just as much as I did.

"If we're done with the hugging, where's the birthday boy?" Bobby asked, with a mischievous grin. Being identical, it can be impossible to tell them apart sometimes. I'm they're older sister, and sometimes I just have to say 'You' because I cant tell them apart. But as they grew older, it became easier and easier. Matthew was the most responsible of the two. He dresses like our father, acts like our father, and even is in school studying to have the same job. Dad was his hero, so he became him. Bobby didn't go the same way. He was still a genius, like all of us, but not necessarily in the same way. He was 'political' smart. The only party-animal of all of us, he is known as the Casanova of Boston. He is currently running for mayor down there. Anyway, you could tell them apart by the way he did just about everything.

I think this would just be easiest:

Bobby- confident and charismatic Matthew- shy and a little dorky

Bobby- great with every girl except for his older sister Matthew- bad with every girl except for his sister

Bobby- takes pride and pays attention to his appearance Matthew-as long as he is wearing something, he's fine

The differences continue, but, even though nothing alike, they get along like best friends. It's actually a little sweet, to tell you the truth.

"Luke's in his room, Bobert," I smirked. If there was anything Bobby hated, it was me calling Bobert. I don't know if he just doesn't like the name or he doesn't like me calling him that. Bobby's grin fell and he shot me a death glare before walking up the stairs to Luke without another world.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not letting two four year old be alone in a room. I'll keep an eye on them," Matthew grinned and went after his twin brother, leaving me in a room alone with my father and step-mother. Oh great.

"How's Sophie?" Karen smiled a 'Proud-Grandparent' smile. It felt weird to see it as I had seen it only a few months ago when my mother came to visit me and Sophie in the hospital. Athena still didn't approve of Percy, but she said that he actually did something right for once. Maybe it's the time wearing down the fight or the two shared grandchildren, but Athena and Poseidon have given a truce. It's amazing. They even popped over to Athens to declare it. It was a great moment, I hear. This'll sound crazy, but the moment it happened, something felt better about the day. Percy and I got along better, and the moment felt so much sweeter. It was three hours later that Rachel called us excitedly to tell us about the truce, and everything made sense.

"She's great, Karen," I smiled, "She's upstairs in her room with Percy if you want to see her," I could tell by the look in her eyes she had been waiting for that from the moment she got off the plane from California.

"Well, I might as well," she faked that she hadn't been thinking about it forever, "The room beside Luke's?"

"That's the one," I smiled, trying to force myself not to laugh. The petite woman bounded up the stairs after her sons, and I looked back at my father. I love Karen and how happy she makes him, but there are some days where I miss when it was just the two of us. I was Daddy's Little Girls. He would read the Iliad to me when I couldn't sleep, and, when that didn't work because I was too interested in the story, he'd carry me to the living room. I'd get the Oreos, and he got the milk and movie. We'd stay up watching some cartoon movie until I'd fall asleep on the couch, and my dad would carry me back to my room where he'd put me back into bed, making sure I had my favorite owl stuffed animal that my mom left me. Then again, I was only four at the time, but that could have continued when I got older. When Karen came around, if I couldn't sleep, she'd read me some stupid kids book that was so far under my intelligence that I fell asleep right then. My dad spent a lot of time with Karen, too. I wasn't Daddy's only girl. Then the twins came, and everything changed. A few years later, I was gone. It took me years, but I came to a point where I actually loved being around my dad again.

"You do know she's been thinking about that since we found out about Sophie, right?" Dad's brown eyes sparkled, like I hadn't seen them sparkle in a long time. In fact, the last time they sparkled so bright was the first time he met his grandson. I had missed him like crazy. I love New York. I always will, but part of me misses the warm, crisp air of California. I miss the how the sun would warm my skin after being in my overly-air-conditioned office all day. Sure, I love how we actually get seasons down here instead of hot and hotter, but you can't help but miss home.

"It's hard to miss it," I smirked, "So, how've you been?" I asked as if I didn't talk to him all the time. Luke had gotten used to spending so much time with his grandparents that he now has to talk to them at least once a week. I have to admit, it is a bit weird, but I don't really mind. It gives me an excuse to vent to Sally and see how my ex-home, California, is. Now, Luke hasn't given me a reason for when I call my brothers to say it was about my kids, but maybe Sophie can give me a reason.

"Good, I guess. I was a little worried when Matthew accidentally blabbed that you and Percy were separated," Dad crossed his tweed-covered arms to look at me. I looked down at my 'gel-massage-thingy' inserted grey flats. I hadn't told my father for a reason, not just by accident or anything. He was worried about me when we just dating simply. When we got married, he got a million times worse. I thought that I could handle it myself, which I did thank you very much1 So, I never told my dad. I mean, Percy and I worked it out. We got back together, worked through some problems, and were better than ever. What's the real problem here?

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but…" I started of, not really knowing where to go with it. How do you tell your father that you kicked your husband out for two weeks because he accused you of cheating? It doesn't even sound easy, and it's easier said than done!

"Annabeth, I know that he did something stupid. You got mad and kicked him out. After Sophie was born, you made up. So, all I want to know is what the stupid thing was," my father cut to the chase just as he had taught me to do. Get it? Cut to the 'chase'? As in our last name? Okay, whatever.

"We has kind of been fighting earlier, and we were also very stressed with everything going on. You remember Peter, right?" I asked. Out of everyone I dated, I only brought two boys home to meat dad. So, I suppose he just has to remember them as I ended marrying one of them.

"Yeah, he was the blonde kid, right?" he shrugged as if he had been dozens of my boyfriends instead of only about two. I nodded, trying not to seem agitated.

"Yeah, Dad, he was named Peter, you know. Anyway, as I was saying, I hadn't told Percy about him, and he found out. We got in a fight about how I had never told him about Peter, and some things were suggested. So, I told him that either I could go and take Luke or he could go. So for the sake of our son, he left, and I told Luke he had to go off for work for a while. But," I smiled as I was now reaching the good part of the story, "We have worked it all out. I finally made peace with the demon that came with Peter. So, it worked out for the best," I tried to smile like it may stop him from making a big deal about it, which I knew it wouldn't. You have to admit, though. It was worth the shot that it might.

"Annabeth…" Dad started. I let out a huff and crossed my arms like I was teenager again, preparing for the speech. Actually, everything around me brought me back. I could imagine my father younger, me in a pair of jeans and a grey tee shirt, the town house repainted a little bit, two little kids running around the house, Karen chasing after them in a pair of black ballet flats (Don't even get me started. She loved them so much that I was surprised she wasn't a salesman for them). Some of these memories even included me being stubborn with Percy right there beside me, trying to calm me down. If only Percy been there this time.

"I'm proud that you put down your pride for the best choice," my father surprised me. I looked straight up to look at him.

Whaaaaa?

"You're proud of me?" I asked, disbelieving.

"Very," my father nodded. I didn't know what to do. This hadn't happened in years. The last time he told me that was when I told Percy about our son finally.

"Well," it still felt odd, but I tried to cope, "Thanks, Dad."

That Night:

"Happy birthday, Luka," Matthew squeezed the toddler in his arms before he set him down to stand beside him. His girlfriend who had driven in from Boston, where she is also a professor, smiled at how much his nephew really liked him. This was her first big family get-together. Now, we Chases have rules. You can't bring some little fling to a family gathering. The plus-one you bring has to be serious which is why Bobby has only brought one plus-one ever, and that was when he was back in high school. I've only and always brought Percy, and I married him. So, you get what I'm getting at, right?

"Be good boy for your father," Bobby smirked as he ruffled the toddlers black hair.

"Hey, what about me?" I asked, trying not to laugh or smile. They may be annoying, but I had still missed my little brothers.

"Eh, Luke, you're on your own for that one," Bobby shrugged. To get back at him, I hugged the snot out of that little twerp. Well, I guess I can call him little. They had inherited our fathers height, not their mothers. So, they were at least three inches taller than me.

"Be good," I whispered in his ear.

"You, too, Annabeth," Bobby whispered, not smirking or joking as he usually would have. I gave my baby brother one more squeeze before I went to Luke.

"Can go with Uncle Matthew, please?" Luke did that cute toddler puppy dog eyes as he begged. I have to admit, he looks just like his father. I mean, right down to the way his green eyes shined against his olive skin. Honestly? It was creeping me the Hades out of me. Was Sophie going to look like that? Wait.

What if she looks just like me?

Now that would definitely creep me out.

"Uh-uh," I shook my head, knowing it wasn't going to be that easy. It never is.

"But please?" Luke looked me straight in my eyes. I admit, I had to take a moment to recover. Whenever he did that, it always took me back to all the moments Percy and I both thought he was about to die. He would look in me in the eyes as if he was begging me to help him, but I couldn't do a thing. His eyes would always shift to 'Take care of yourself, Annie' which was a million times worse than the first. I had to force myself back to my son in front of me.

"Fine," I smiled with a plan, "But Wabbie has to stay here," I tried not to smirk as I knew I had just won.

"Well, I think I might want to stay for Sophie," Luke looked down. Matthew shook his head and ruffled his black hair once more.

"It was wonderful to meet you, Lisa," I smiled at Matthew's girlfriend. She still seemed a little mesmerized by how much Luke wanted to be with his uncle, but she managed to nod and reply with 'Likewise, Annabeth'.

"We better get going. You know how bad of a driver Matthew is," Bobby smirked. Followed by a roll of the eyes, Matthew told us goodbye, and the three left, leaving only their parents.

"We'll come see you tomorrow, okay, Luke?" Dad got down on his knees to look at Luke. Luke excitedly nodded with a smile. They exchanged a hug, and Karen did the same.

"Goodnight to all three of you," Karen smiled warmly, as she finally followed her husband through the door.

"It was great to see you," Percy called out to all of them. By now, I was dead tired. Yeah, not dog tired, not wiped out, but dead tired. I just put up with a bunch of four year olds, a newborn, and my family. So, yeah. Get over it.

"I'll clean the kitchen. You put Luke to bed," I whispered to Percy. He mumbled something like 'Why does she get the easy job?' before doing just as I asked. I could get used to this. Getting what I want. Percy doing as I say.

Anyway, I looked around the house to see that it was, honestly, trashed, but that was something I could handle tomorrow. Right now, I just needed to handle the kitchen, which wasn't nearly as messy. Basically, all I had to do was put a few wine glasses and Sippy cups in the dishwasher and throw away the empty bottle of wine. Then, I can go to sleep until Sophie wakes up at four AM. At least I get something, I guess.

I flipped on the switch of the kitchen.

"Ahh!" I let out a whisper scream. What? Even if I was scared, I was so not going to wake up Sophie. Uh-uh, not happening.

In front of me, a tall woman looked back at me. Even in jeans and a blue peasant blouse, she still looked intimidating. She was beautiful, but her grey eyes took center stage. Brown curls tumbled down her back. She hadn't aged a day since I last saw her.

"Mom?"

"Annabeth," a gentle smile spread across her light-pink-lipstick covered lips. The lipstick seemed to be the only make-up she wore, as usual. Athena seemed to even look like she was a mom at that point, not just the goddess of wisdom.

I know that there are a lot of better things to say when you haven't seen your mother in months, but I could only come up with one thing to say.

"When did you become a brunette?" Athena let a little laugh out before she shrugged.

"Aphrodite decided to give me a make-over," Athena's grey eyes shined as she looked at me, just like mine did when I looked at Luke or Sophie. I don't know what it was that made me smile, but I did.

"You look good, Mom."

"How's Sophie doing?" Athena took on the 'worried grandmother' role that I had been getting from three people today.

"She's good. She's growing rapidly, but that's just natural," I shrugged, not truly knowing what to say.

"Do you mind if I go wish Luke a happy birthday?" Athena asked with a gentle smile. At that moment, it was hard to picture her as the woman who would do anything to end the war back when I was fifteen. All I could see in this woman was a brilliant young woman who wanted to see her family. Honestly, she reminded me of myself when I came home to visit my little brothers when I went to college.

"Of course not," I smiled, "Percy should have just put him to bed. So, he'll be in his room. Just make sure he goes back into his bed when you leave," Athena let out yet one more motherly, warm smile. I was actually getting a little creeped out by it.

"Thank you, Annabeth," she hugged me. I have to admit, while I did hug back, I was almost scared. This wasn't something we did very often. Usually, when she came to visit, it was because she was mad or something had gone wrong. Hugging didn't quite fit into those categories.

Percy:

I could barely breathe, but it was easily ignored by how I was thinking over everything so hard that I was almost getting a migraine. Over the last few years, I've been seeing much more of this woman than I want to. Then again, if I never saw her again, it might be too soon. I closed the bedroom door, and Annabeth looked up at me from typing away on her laptop.

"Hey," she smiled, completely unaware of what a panic I was in. I thought she said she knew me so well that she knew what mood I was in before I even understood it myself. Well, not so true, now is it? If I wasn't so upset, I would point that out.

"Annabeth, why is the goddess of wisdom in my son's bedroom?" I asked, not taking the time to point out that she was being so dim at the moment. Well, that and I really didn't want another scar. I mean, I've got enough of those from Annabeth. I'm not even sure if I could name them all. There's the one above my eye when I snuck into her dorm because I really needed to talk to her when we were sixteen. One is on wrist from when I tried to get her to stop reading and she was so surprised by someone grabbing her by the wrist that she cut them with her dagger from when we were eighteen. Oh and the one on my shoulder from when she- wait, I'm getting off topic again.

"Two corrections to that, Percy. Why is Luke's grandmother in our son's room?" Annabeth smiled the 'Athena-Smart' smile that she and her siblings managed to do amazingly.

"Fine, Annie, why is Luke's grandmother in our son's room?" I asked, trying not to sound impatient, when I really was. I mean, seriously? There's a god in my house, and my wife won't tell me why.

"It's Luke's birthday. She wanted to see him," Annabeth shrugged like it was nothing. Okay, am I the only one who gives a Hades about this?

"Okay then, Annabeth, if my father just came in to see Luke, you'd be this calm?" I asked, crossing my arms. Annabeth looked away for a moment or two, her grey eyes calculating.

"Yeah," Annabeth nodded, with a simple smile. I closed my eyes and wanted to bang my head on something, but I couldn't feel it. So, it wouldn't have made much of a difference.

"Fine, if-" I tried to think of some random god, "Okay, if Zeus came in or something-"

"The only reason Zeus would come would be if he was going to harm our family. So, I wouldn't be okay," Annabeth cut me off. Now this is just getting annoying.

"Fine," I gritted my teeth, "Apollo, then."

"Well that would be weird, but I suppose Apollo has always liked us. He would bring something good along with him, I guess," Annabeth shrugged, her grey eyes alert. Really? Now this time, I did bang my head on the door behind me, but I walked over to sit on the bed beside Annabeth.

"Okay, Annabeth, I'm just going to simplify it so that someone who is continuously coming up with personal explanations for each god could understand," I told her slowly. She cocked an eyebrow, like 'This is going to be good'.

"Someone who is continuously coming up with person explanations for each god could understand?" she asked me, her arms crossed like she couldn't wait to hear whatever I was about to say.

"Annabeth, Dear, you're interrupting. Now, I love you, but you need to stop thinking about the god. Just think about the idea that there is a god in your home. Okay? Now, I went to go check on Luke and saw my mother in law, who tried to kill me, repeatedly, was laughing with my son. Now are you getting it?" I asked.

"Yes, I do," Annabeth smiled and ran her hand through my hair.

"You're overreacting, Percy," her face fell as she told me.

"I am not!" I defended.

"Percy, Dear, you're interrupting," Annabeth smiled and went to the bathroom where I heard her toothbrush whirl up.

"Hey, don't use my line!" I called out. I think I heard Annabeth laugh or something, but it was a really loud toothbrush. I mean, who makes a toothbrush that loud? Wait, who would buy that toothbrush? I mean, either you're a dental hypochondriac or you're just plain insane. Wait, didn't Annabeth have me go pick up that toothbrush?

Don't you say one word.

As if Annabeth had sensed me seeing what an idiot I am, she came out of the bedroom, ready for bed. I don't know why, but I am so not going to just let this one go. From the look in Annabeth's grey eyes, she felt exactly the same way.

"Okay, Percy, I'm sorry I didn't warn you, okay? I just knew you wouldn't like it, and I really didn't want you to be upset. I really am sorry, Perseus. So, we good?" Annabeth smiled, keeping the annoyed 'Let's Just Get This Over With' look out of her face. Instead, a bright and sunny smile spread across her face. Wow… she's good.

"Well, uh," I didn't see that I had won or that she had won, but it seemed to be over. So, what do I do now?

"Good, Babe," Annabeth kissed my cheek, leaving a pale-pink lipstick-print on said cheek.

"Ugh! I thought I got all this gunk of. I hate make-up," Annabeth marched away to the bathroom where I heard the sound of running water from the sink. I still sat there, and that's when I realized something.

She had just won, and I didn't even notice.

Wow.

She's really good.

Luke:

I turned up the volume to 'Bubble Guppies' and picked up the Junie B. Jones book beside me. I was in my room, waiting for Mom and Dad to finish getting ready. They woke me up thirty minutes ago, thinking I was going to take the longest, when they had taken this entire time. Of course, they had to take care of Sophie when she started crying, which she did every morning at seven-fifteen. Yes, I kept count. Anyway, she never cries at seven-sixteen. It is the exact moment of seven-fifteen. Everyone says she's a good and quiet baby, but if that's quiet, what's loud?

Nana (Karen, his step-grandmother), Grandfather (Annabeth's Dad), Uncle Bobby, and Uncle Matthew left yesterday. They had stayed for about three days, but Mathena (Athena) only saw me for about an hour. She's great. Well, you can tell she doesn't quite get along with kids so well, and it did take her awhile to get along with me after I turned one. But she's great. Well, hilarious actually. To some, it take someone forever to understand what she's saying, but it makes complete sense to me. So, I can see how she wouldn't get along with other kids, but, to me, she's just like my mom. And I love my mom. You're getting what I'm saying, right?

Anyway, Mathena's great. Oh right, why do I call her Mathena? Well, my mom always calls her 'Mother' to her face, but she refers to her 'Athena'. So, when it came time for me to decide what to call her, I got really confused. In the end, when she came over one day, I smiled and gurgled 'Mathena'. Ever since then, everyone has made fun of it, but I can't think to call her anything else.

I just can't. Anyway, Papa (Poseidon)came to see me yesterday, right before Grandma (Sally) left. No coincidence there, huh? Then Grandpa (Paul) basically pushed them out of the front door to get the two exes away from each other. I suppose that does make sense when you think about it, but I really wished they could have been there together. I've only seen them together about twice in my life where Grandpa didn't pretty much force them away. I love him, but he can really be a pill when it comes to that. I'm a kid. Naturally, I want to see my real grandparents together. Karen let's Mathena and Grandfather be together, but I think Mathena still likes him. No, I'm not being the hopeful kid who wants them to be together. I'm serious. She always smiles when he's around, and she doesn't make funny little quips that could ever offend him. That's love for her. Anyway, but Grandfather obviously still likes her because he becomes a blubbering idiot the second she walks through the door. Honestly, it's pretty funny.

"Lucas Charles Jackson, get down these stairs right now!" the yell I knew as my mother's broke me out of my thoughts. Imiedantly, I looked away from the book, that I'm now noticing I've basically finished, and over at the alarm clock beside my bed.

7:55

How'd that happen? I grabbed my green backpack and started my run to the stairway where I bounded down two at a time. Why does this keep happening?

"You were reading, huh?" Mom didn't take the time to stand there and let me answer but grabbed her purse and started out the door with Sophie in her arms.

"Yeah, Junie B. Jones," I answered closing the front door after both of us.

"Luka, stop growing up. Soon enough you'll be off at college," Mom shook her head, sending her long blonde hair in a tizzy.

"Mom, that's in fourteen years," I rolled my eyes.

"Shut up, Smartie," Mom smirked.

I wonder what people with normal parents do in the morning.