I was counting down the days until Rachel went into labor. Annabeth wouldn't write to me about Rachel unless it was to rant, or unless I asked. I got my news from Jen.

"Percy?"

I slid out from behind my rock as Jen handed me Annabeth's scroll. "Rachel was due two days ago, so, any day now."

I smiled up at her. I don't think I would have survived this long without Jen there to run errands. "Thank you Jen, for everything."

She laughed. "You are very welcome, Percy, now if you'll excuse me, Connor and I have a campfire to get to."

I waved her off and slipped under the sea.

***

I was perched on my throne a Rubik's cube in my hand. I had seen Annabeth figure one out in about thirty seconds last summer, and I had been obsessed with the things ever since, unfortunately, for me, though, I didn't have a prayer of actually finishing one. I was momentarily distracted from my task when a pink-haired mermaid came into the room. "Sir?" She said quietly.

"Don't call me sir," I rattled off automatically. Sir sounded so old, and I was sixteen. Forever young. I rolled my eyes.

"Right," the mermaid faltered for a second, trying to come up with something to call me, but in the end forged ahead with the news. "The mortal has gone into labor, your presence has been requested at Camp Half-Blood."

FREEDOM HERE I COME! I screamed in my head. Out loud I said, "Thank you for telling me." Then I took off, swimming faster than I had thought possible.

I hit the beach running, darting around the cabins and going straight to the Big House. I needed to find Chiron. The Gods might hate me, but Chiron had always been on my side. I threw open the front door, and went crashing into - who else- Mr. D.

"Peter." He said, picking himself up off of the floor.

"Where's Chiron?" I didn't bother correcting him, and he didn't bother with an answer, just simply pointed down the hallway. I nodded in thanks, but he was already gone, muttering about sleep and coke.

I went in the direction I was pointed in, and came across Chiron, about to enter a room.

"Chiron," I panted, getting his attention.

"Percy." The old man's eyes lit up at the sight of me. "How are you enjoying your immortality?"

"It's great," I answered, although my tone must have told him otherwise. "Chiron, where's An-"

Chiron held a finger to his lips. "The door at the very end of the hall. Tell her that we need help with the birth - it will appease the Gods," I turned, then stopped when he said, "Percy? I wish you luck."

I gave him a quick hug. "Thank you." And I bolted.

The doorknob turned easily under my hand, and I opened the door a crack. I surveyed the room. I saw a dresser, piled high with clothes and books, another door, presumably leading to a bathroom, and a bed that Annabeth was standing on. She was at an angle, leaning from the bed, which was a few feet away from the wall, to the actual wall to peer out the window. I tossed the door open, ignoring the loud sound, and jumped through the air. She managed to say, "What Jen?" before I forced her face down on the bed.

Before Annabeth could really start to fight back (because I would so lose) I flipped her over, and kissed her. I was already winded from running, but the sight of her stole the rest of my air. She was so beautiful. Her skin was paler than I remembered, her hair longer, but her eyes were the same. Windows to her soul. "Annabeth," I whispered, allowing us both a second to breathe before kissing her again. She wrapped her arms around me, anchoring me to her. I sat up, taking her with me.

"How?" She whispered.

"Rachel's gone into labor. Since she thinks I'm the father I'm allowed to be here for it. I was also sent to get you so that you could help with the birth." I said quietly, the father part with venom in it.

"Oh."I couldn't tell what she meant by 'oh', but before I could think too long, Annabeth said, "Where is she?"

I thought for a second, trying to remember what door Chiron had been going into,

"She's down the hall to the left, third door." Annabeth shifted, and I took that as a sign she was about to leave, but she needed to know about the mermaids. She needed to know that we could be together. I could make it happen. "But, Annabeth, I know how we can be together forever. It's not something that Athena can object to."

She froze, and I instantly became worried. Was I wrong? Did she not love me? I couldn't tell anything by her face, except that she was deep in thought, her brow wrinkled, her eyes dark. No doubt she was trying to figure out what I was talking about.

"How?" She breathed, and I could tell, by her tone, that this was something she wanted.

I opened my mouth to tell her, when a scream echoed through the Big House, reminding me that Rachel was in labor, and that Annabeth and I should be there before someone came looking.

"I'll tell you after, let's go." I promised. Then I stood, took her hand, and together we went down the hallway. Annabeth turned the knob, and pushed the door open.

Rachel was lying on the bed, but I couldn't see her face, the baby belly obstructing my view. She cried out again, and had a mini spasm, bringing her head up high, so that I could see her sweat drenched face, the knotted hair, and the wild eyes. It was in that moment that I was reminded that Rachel was only sixteen. Still a child, who was about to have a child of her own. Rachel whimpered, and Chiron took her hand.

***

Days later, Rachel had a baby boy. He could have been her mirror image, except that he was very round, like a pumpkin.

"What are you going to name him?" Annabeth asked, and she was staring at the baby like he was some sort of treasure, which surprised me because it was Rachel's boy.

"I'm going to name him after my grandfather, Josh." Rachel's voice was hushed as she studied the baby, as though he were a mirage. I relaxed after hearing the name. I had been petrified that she would try to name him after me, which would make no sense because I wasn't related to him in any way. "Josh Alexander Dare." Rachel repeated, and I felt a smile tug at my lips at the sight of her.

There was a quick rap at the door, and Juniper came in, her eyes as big as dinner plates. "Annabeth?" I looked at Annabeth, who was looking at Juniper. "You've been requested."

Requested? By who? Who requests people? I thought.

The Gods. The Gods request people. Devil thought slowly.

Bye-bye Annabeth. There goes your stupid plan. Angel growled.

I swear, it hates me.

"Requested?" Annabeth sounded about as confused as I felt, something that had never happened before.

"Yes, come with me." Juniper lead Annabeth away.

I took a step toward the door.

Don't do it. Angel warned.

She's going to tell you anyway, Devil reasoned.

Curiosity overwhelmed me, and I slipped outside, following Annabeth.

I was only a few steps behind and I watched her enter an outbuilding that was doubling as an infirmary until all battle wounds had been healed. Even though it had been a little over nine months, it seemed like the place was still up and running. I went inside, and crept forward until I heard Annabeth's voice. I stopped.

Eavesdropping is a sin, Angel exclaimed. I mentally told Devil to go kick the crap out of Angel, and he went and did so willingly.

"I wanted to tell you something." The voice that spoke was low, gravelly, but most definitely male.

"What?" That was definitely Annabeth.

"I love you, Annabeth." I hadn't figured out who this idiot was yet, but I was going to kick the moron's ass.

"What?" That was Annabeth's what-the-hell-did-you-just-say voice, and I thought that Annabeth was going to kill the guy for me.

"I love you. I need to be with you. I cannot survive without you." The voice sounded so desperate, and I was so close to placing it when Annabeth said:

"Sorry Luke."

LUKE!? That - I swore at him in my mind.

"What?"Luke sounded confused by what just happened.

Haha. Dude got shot down! Devil laughed. BURN!

"Sorry Luke, but I don't like you like that. Right now, I'm not even sure that I like you as a friend. Maybe someday I can get over the idea that you were once foe."I smiled to myself. That was my girl.

"Annabeth," I ground my teeth. What more did this guy want?

"What Aphrodite and Hades said? I'm the only one who can give you that." I was still had no idea what they had said, so how did he know?

"I'm sure." Annabeth's voice showed no doubts.

"No really, no one else is crazy enough to like you like that." That sounded like a challenge. I stood from my crouching position, as Devil crowed: Show time!

"Then call me crazy." I came up behind Annabeth, and gave her a long kiss on the lips, while Luke stared. I could almost feel the daggers coming from his eyes, but I could care less.

Annabeth grabbed my hand and led me back to the Big House and Rachel's room, where it looked like a mini-party was going on. There was Rachel, Josh, Grover, Juniper and Chiron. The room must have been magically enhanced, because there was no other way we could have all fit.

The conversation was rising, but it stopped suddenly when Dionysus walked in.

I do not own Percy Jackson And The Olympians, or the Rubik's Cube. Reviews are love.

~DI4MGZ~