Prologue

"We don't... we don't know how your child will turn out Percy." Chiron was telling me. He was on our front pouch, legs compacted into a tiny wheelchair. His eyes were wide with worry as he glanced inside to Annabeth who was huddled over her laptop, adjusting her plans for the god's sacred temple. She wasn't showing yet, but we both knew she was having a baby. The whole camp knew she was having a baby. We both worked with the camp, recruiting demigods and teaching some classes (swordsmanship, in my case), so we lived in a house on the Long Island inside the camps magical boarders... not that we don't get out. We have LOTS (to many) visits to Mount Olympus. "No two demigods have ever gotten married... had children. Much less the Big Three. This is very risky." The waves beat against the shore and I walked outside and shut the door behind me.

"I know Chiron... but Annabeth wants this." I told him, leaning on the pourch railing and staring at the sea.

He smiled at me, but his face was full of worry. "I think you know what to do."

I nodded and went back to the door. "Yes. It's time to go visit Rachel."

I slipped inside the house and smiled at Annabeth. Her eyes were pleasantly alight and her hair was pulled back from her face, but it wouldn't stay up.

"Annabeth.. I've got to go up to camp for a bit. Will you be okay?"

She looked up at me, a fierce smile spreading across her face. "I'm just as invincible as you, Percus Jackson." Her smile was radiant.

I kissed her forehead and went to the door.

*

Soon I was standing in front of the cave (hidden behind a purple curtain) that held the Orcle... My old friend Rachel.

I pulled back the curtain and found her in her usual: jeans and a Harvard pullover. She was sitting on the ground, her legs crossed, eyes closed. "I hear congratulations are in order." She said and I sat at her feet.

"Hi, Rachel."