HI GUYS!

Wow it's been such a long time (almost five months wow) and you know, I should apologize thoroughly.

I really am sorry for putting such a long hiatus to this story. It's just that...truthfully, my inspiration for this story has been slipping. It's a huge commitment but it's not one that I'm going to back down from because you are all so lovely and I want to tell what I originally intended. I can't promise regular updates because I'm going to enter junior year of high school and those of you in USA know that's one of the hardest years of high school and I really want to do a swell job on it. I will be writing but how often and whether it will be for this story, I can't say. Writing is one of my true passions and I'd never abandon it. Nor you guys. Like, I literally just checked the reviews and all of your messages have been very heartwarming and awe-inspiring that I felt very inspired...and this is the result. Mind you, I'm quite proud of it, but it's short. I know, I know. I have such a problem with length but I feel like for this story, shortness has become the norm. ANYWAYS enough of my rambling! Thank you for those of you who have stuck with this story since the beginning and to those who encouraged me. xx

(NOTE: I changed my screen name again, wow. But, it's my url on tumblr as well, so if you have one and you'd like to talk to me or whatever... .com. I don't check this account often.)

That day, Annabeth confronted Percy.

"What the hell is going on, Percy?" she said, forcing him to sit down. He faked a nonchalant expression

"What are you talking about? Nothing is going on."

"Bullshit. I barely see you anymore. You come home late, you leave home early. I don't even know if you're eating, and, and, it seems like you just don't want to see me anymore." Tears welled up in her eyes and she refused to let them show. She did care about Percy and she hated that it seemed like he was working himself to the bone. Annabeth pointed her chin and willed herself to keep the tears from falling. If there was one thing she hated, was Percy (or anyone, for that matter, seeing her cry). Percy, however, could read her like a book. He gulped, feeling guilty for making her feel so unwanted, when this was such a vital time to give her support and love. She needed that, to ground her. Raising a kid at this decidedly young age, was difficult, as his mother pointed out. People their age needed relaxation and fun. They needed to get a job, date around, work their way up to children. They didn't need to be tied down with the responsibility of another human being so soon after finishing their school. But then again, they were never normal. There weren't a lot of demigods who survived to adulthood and that was understandable. Having children in the first place was so unplanned and unexpected. Both of them lived their life like each day was their last because with their parentage, it very well could be.

"Annabeth, I…I…" he bit his lip. "Annabeth, no. Look, I love you so much, and I love our child so much. I just…I just want us to be able to keep him or her healthy. What if we don't have enough money to raise a child? New York City is expensive, and we can't keep on like this. We have enough for us, but just barely. And, Annabeth, babies are expensive I mean, they have so much they need. I just…I want us to be okay, financially. That's why I'm gone all the time. It's never been anything personal, Annabeth. Please don't think that."

She nodded, closing her eyes, her resolve weakening to. Tears fell and Percy wraps his arms around her and pressed her close to his chest, kissed her cheek. He brought his hand up and wiped her tears away and she stared up at him, kissing him soundly. She smiled against him, a common occurrence.

"But, Percy, you can't ignore yourself, or your health, or me. I know you want the best for us, but please Percy, don't do this to yourself, okay?" she hugged him tightly, running her hands lightly through his hair on the nape of his neck. He shivered in her arms and she smiled again. It was funny how the two of them seemed able to run two conversations, one with their bodies, another with their voices.

She understood what he was saying, what he meant. She too, had her doubts. They simply never had time to fully think of their future. It was more like their future was thrust upon them. It had come in the shape of a biological mass that would turn to a human being with time. Truthfully, it scared her so much more than any other quest or monster possibly could. With quests and monsters, she had training, she had a manual and she knew what to do. But with this…she had no empirical data on how to be a mother. It was like walking into a battlefield with no weapons or information on what to expect. And that…that scared her more than it should. She breathed in quietly, and put her head on his chest as she pondered their decision and the difficult road ahead.

Thank you for reading! Tell me what you thought? Put your comments in the box below! xx