Annabeth smiled as she entered the kitchen, a small blue cupcake in her hands. In the kitchen sat Percy, who was gently feeding Charlie.

"There we go....just eat the airplane!" Percy cooed at his son, spinning the spoon around causing Charlie to laugh.

"Happy Birthday, seaweed brain," Annabeth murmured into his ear, causing him to smirk. "You're officially old now."

Percy turned around and accepted her cupcake. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that and eat my cupcake in peace."

Annabeth rolled her eyes and shook her head. Then she pulled up a chair next to Charlie's high chair and finished feeding him while Percy ate his birthday cupcake.

"Twenty-eight. Gods, that just sounds old," he said with a shudder, causing Annabeth to hold back her laughter, making a choking snort sound. "Thanks, wise girl. You're older than me!"

"I age well," she replied softly. Percy bit his lip. "Oh, come on. You know I'm teasing you."

Annabeth finished feeding Charlie and stood up, ruffling Percy's untidy hair as she walked over to their sink, placing the dish inside it.

"Big plans for tonight?" Annabeth asked him while filling the bowl with warm water. "Total blowout planned, right?"

Percy snorted as he peered at Charlie, who laughed along with him. "Oh, yes. Big party ahead. I'm thinking we'll even watch a PG movie!"

Annabeth raised her eyebrows. "PG? That is wild, Jackson. Try not to stay up too late, like eight thirty!"

"The scandal!" Percy replied before finishing his cupcake. "Maybe, if Charlie's feeling generous, he'll gift me him sleeping through the night."

"Unlikely," Annabeth said with a shrug. "But, is it's before midnight when he wakes up, I will handle him for you. My birthday treat."

Percy nodded and tousled his hair. "Perfect gift, how thoughtful. But after midnight?"

She walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "All you."

"Great," he replied, turning back to Charlie. "You'll sleep tonight, right?"

In response Charlie giggled, which Percy took as a good sign.

Then a sudden knock on their door caused him to bolt out of his seat. He peered at Charlie, who was still giggling. Then, with one hand in his pocket tightly clenching Riptide, he opened the door.

"Hey! Surprise!" the familiar voice of Leo Valdez said. "Happy Birthday, man."

Percy grinned with relief as he peered at his visitors. Leo and Calypso stood before him, wearing matching grins. "Thanks. What brings you two here?"

He ushered them inside, closing the door behind them. "Oh, sorry for the mess. Yeah, you can just step over that...."

He guided them through the messy kitchen over to where Charlie was impatiently waiting for them.

"How's little Charles?" Calypso asked, immediately choosing the seat besides him.

"Good. Cries and giggles a lot," Percy said, resting in one of the other chair. Leo followed his example.

"Percy, who was at the door?" Annabeth asked, walking into the kitchen. Then her eyes spotted Calypso and Leo and her face immediately went red.

"Hey, Annabeth!" Calypso called with a grin.

Annabeth peered down at her own outfit of a pair of sweatpants and one of Percy's old high school sweatshirts. "Hey, you two! I, uh, didn't know you were coming over or I would've—"

"Everything's fine," Leo said, waving away her concerns. "Come sit with us! You worry too much."

"Oh, okay," she said with a frown. She skillfully made her way through the kitchen and sat next to them. "Marina's still asleep or else she'd be here. I'm sure she'd love to see Auntie Calypso and Uncle Leo."

Leo shrugged. "At least Percy's awake this time. And little Charlie. Although I'm still upset he isn't named Leo Jr., he's still a cool kid."

Calypso rolled her eyes before elbowing Leo. "You really are special, Leo. But he's right. Marina and Charlie are the cutest."

"Thanks," Percy and Annabeth said in unison.

"Oh, we have a present!" Leo declared, peaking Percy's interest. "And it relates to your cute kids!"

They both raised their eyebrows.

"We're going to watch them for you!" Calypso blurt out. "Tonight. So you two can go out and celebrate Percy's birthday properly."

Annabeth smiled. "That's really sweet, but we can't ask you two to do that."

"You didn't ask," Leo replied with a cheeky grin. "Therefore, it is alright. Now go get ready! The sooner you get out the better."

~

After a few minutes to get ready and quickly plan the exciting night ahead of them, Percy and Annabeth were off.

"What's in store for tonight, wise girl?" Percy asked as they climbed into the cab.

She huffed. "I don't need a plan to have fun. How about we just go with the flow?"

Percy narrowed his eyes. "Who are you and where is my wife?"

She playfully slapped his shoulder. "Whatever. Fine, if you must know...."

Percy nodded anxiously and impatiently.

"Fine. We're going to that one place you really like," she replied. "But that's all I'm telling you."

"That's it?!" Percy asked. "I like a lot of places! Is it food? Pizza? Is it fancy? Expensive?"

Annabeth shook her head and bit her lip. "Maybe if you'd just wait--"

Percy pulled his signature begging look of a pursed lip and wide eyes, causing Annabeth to give in.

"It's that one kiddy restaurant you like where you can draw on the tables," she admitted.

His eyes lit up. "IHOP?!"

Annabeth laughed. "I married a dork, didn't I?"

"No one forced you into it," he retorted. "I can't believe we're going to IHOP. I thought you didn't like it because it was sticky."

"It's still sticky," she said with a shudder. "But I know you like it."

He smiled, but it quickly faded away. "Marina loves IHOP, too....remember when she ate that sugar packet raw?"

"I remember telling her not to," she replied. "And then the same with you!"

"Oh, come on! I was curious," he said. Then his face sunk. He leaned in towards the front of the cab. "Hey, could you actually take us where we came from?"

Annabeth frowned. "What are you doing? Aren't you excited?"

"Oh, I'm over the moon," he responded. "I can't believe you remembered and you hate it there. But I realized, it's not as fun without Marina and Charlie there."

"You're....right," she said with a generous sigh. "They are pretty damn cute. And we left them with....Leo...."

"Who can shoot fire out out his hands...."

"There's a huge change our apartment's on fire, isn't there?" Annabeth asked skeptically.

Percy chuckled. "Oh, yes...."

~

When they arrived back home their house was, thankfully, still there and intact. The only thing out of the ordinary was how quiet it was.

"Hello?" Annabeth whispered, entering the apartment, not wanting to ruin anything. The two entered the living room to see Marina, Charlie, and Leo all on the couch watching Finding Nemo together.

"Hey, over here!" Calypso whispered from the kitchen. They walked over to her. "What are you two doing home so early?"

Percy shrugged and peered at Annabeth. "The, uh, restaurant was closed. How did you get them all to be quiet?"

Calypso smiled. "TV. Who knew that technology could solve everything?"

"How were they?" Annabeth asked wearily. "Hopefully not too bad?"

"They were angels, nothing to worry about, Annabeth," she assured her. "I need the practice, anyways."

She flashed her hand, which showed a ring on her left hand ring finger.

"Congrats!" Percy and Annabeth whispered together. "How long have you had it?"

She shrugged. "About a week now. I didn't want to rush the news on you or anything."

"That's great news," Percy said with a grin. "Now how about we join the kids in the other room?"

They all chuckled and walked into the living room, joining Leo, Marina, and Charlie.

And Percy knew. He had chosen the right plan for his birthday.