Chapter 13: Out of My Hands

I grabbed the keys to our rental car and stuffed them into the ignition. Annabeth had trouble sitting up front. She actually had problems sitting in general. She didn't wince though. She held on like a real hero. Which is why I love her so much.

"Percy how much longer do I have to sit like this?" Annabeth said as I pulled onto the 101 towards LA.

"Not much farther Annabeth, look there is a huge towering building. It looks amazing at night." Grover pointed out to her.

"All I want to do is go to sleep and repair my stupid body. I feel so weird."

Annabeth curled up underneath my jacket and tried to muffle her crying. I felt like the worst boyfriend on the planet. Knowing my luck she probably won't want sex again for a long time.

I managed to get to Santa Monica where we checked into a hotel. Nico and Grover got the suitcases while I checked in with Annabeth. We got two different rooms. I was shocked, not for the first time, that Annabeth actually did want to sleep next to me.

That night after I climbed into bed I thought about what Nico would do once we got down to the river. I mean, it was his choice as to who was going to be the one, but I just couldn't see Nico sacrificing his own life and fighting skills for Annabeth.

Annabeth fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Once she was asleep I wondered over to Nico and Grover's room.

"Hey Percy, come on in." Grover's cheerful demenor really made me feel a lot better.

"I was thinking Percy, Annbeth is the right choice to go into the river. It will keep her safer in the long run. But she needs some time to heal first. I think that we should just stay here for like a week or so. Until she is comfortable enough to go dive into the river. But don't tell her it's her Percy. She probably has enough on her plate."

"What? Annabeth…my, oh my gods. This is not going to fly Nico. I mean, she's sacrificed so much."

"Percy this is for the greater good of the world and everything in it. And it keeps her safe."

"Fine, it isn't my decision. I'm just not exactly thrilled with the concept." I stormed out of the room and climbed back in bed next to Annabeth.

The next morning I awoke to the sound of Annabeth puking in the bathroom. Maybe she just has food poisoning on top of all of this. I have no clue. Mental note to self, google what makes you throw up later on.

"Feeling any better?"

"What do you think?"

"I'll take that as a no."

"Damn right Kelp head!"

Things seemed to escalate from there. Four days later and she looked like a wreck. She even when to the pharmacy, stayed in there for twenty minutes, came out crying and didn't even tell me why. Then that night I got the news that no guy in their right mind wants to hear…

"Percy we might have a problem, but I'm scared to tell you because I think you'll be mad at me."

"Just tell me Annabeth…Oh shit. Are you pregnant?" I finally pieced together what was wrong with her. She started crying.

"Yes, I'm so sorry Percy."

"Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. I'm not ready to be a fucking father!"

"Do you have any objections to me having an abortion Percy?"

"Uh, no. Because we seriously aren't ready."

"I have shitty luck don't I? But it's okay because I learned how to make lemonade a long time ago."

"But if life doesn't give you sugar and water that lemonade of yours is going to suck."

"See that's my girl. This is just as much my fault as it is yours. An interesting week huh?"

"Yeah, no kidding." I kissed her and it seemed like that one kiss I gave her melted all of her tears.

"Percy, what if I didn't want to have an abortion?"

"Okay, slow down and back trace to the nearest exit. Okay, what do you want to do Annabeth because this is totally your decision."

"I don't know Percy, part of me really wants this and part of me is scared."

"I am in so much trouble."

"I want to keep the baby Percy. I think I want to keep it."

"Then I have to figure out how to be the first father of a demigod hybrid kid." I shook my head, I was stuck now. I am going to be a father.