"I need to give them an answer by tomorrow."

Percy dreaded hearing those words. He peered down at his shoes and pretended not to hear her.

"Percy?"

He sighed and rubbed his temples. "Don't-don't you have an interview today? With some big firm?"

"It's not a big firm," Annabeth reminded him. "And even if I get the job, I'm not taking it. It's not nearly as much as the other offer."

"Why can't you take it?" Percy asked, growing angry. "Since when did money become everything? I....I don't want to leave New York! My family is here. Camp is here! Everything I have is....here!"

Annabeth bit her lip. She knew this discussion was coming. "I have family in California, Percy. And New Rome is in California. It'd be close enough...."

Percy closed his eyes, desperately trying to stop tears. Then he stood up and grabbed his keys. "I need to go. I'll see you....I'll see you later."

"Percy, wait!" Annabeth called after him. But Percy kept on walking.

He got to the car and started driving. He drove and drove before he finally arrived at his destination—Annabeth's old law firm's office.

He remembered the place from all the Christmas parties he'd been to. He hastily rushed inside, wanting to avoid the awful heat of New York's summer.

"Hello, I'm looking for a, uh, Mr.Hunner?" Percy asked, quite not remembering the name of Annabeth's boss.

The receptionist peered at him and raised and eyebrow. "You mean Mr.Hunter? He's in his office."

Percy felt his face grow warm. He nodded. "Yeah, him. Could I speak to him for a moment?"

"And what is this in reference to?" he asked in a bored tone.

"Uh...." Percy started. It hadn't really occurred to him what to say. "A lawsuit. This is about a lawsuit."

Oh, how Annabeth was going to kill him.

The receptionist's face grew pale and his eyes widened. "A lawsuit? I wasn't aware. Go on in."

He ushered to the an office where an old man with graying hair sat at a desk, typing something up.

Percy sighed and hesitantly walked in, wishing he'd brought Piper with him.

"Hello, how can I help you?" Mr.Hunter asked, not bothering to peer up from his computer.

Percy narrowed his eyes. "I'm here in reference to a lawsuit."

Mr.Hunter immediately looked up, looking sheepish. "A-a lawsuit? You sure, son?"

"Yes, I'm sure," he replied confidently.

Then Mr.Hunter grinned and pointed his finger at Percy. "You're Annabeth Chase's husband, correct? Randall?"

"Percy."

"Oh, yes. I was close," he said. Sure. Then he ushered towards a chair in front of his desk. "Take a seat, Percy."

Percy reluctantly sat down. "I'd like to speak to you about my wife's wrongful termination. The law states that you may not fire someone for maternity leave."

"I know, Percy," he said. Then he shook his head. "Percy, what is that short for? Peter? No, surely not."

"That doesn't matter," Percy spat back. "You wrongfully fired my wife."

"Peruses, that's it!" he said with a smile. "Like the Greek myth! Can I call you that, Perseus?"

Percy's face went red. "I don't care what you call me. I'd just like to discuss my wife's job here. I know she did it well, and I know you shouldn't have fired her."

Mr.Hunter just grinned. He was smooth and he knew how to handle situations like this. "She just took one too many days off, Perseus. Surely you know how annoying that is!"

"No, I don't," he shot back. "She was on maternity leave. And she'd just moved! She didn't do anything wrong. She used personal days, and if you don't recognize that I may have to sue!"

"Sue? Really?" he asked. "Can't we just talk this out?"

Percy nodded. "Yeah, sure. We can talk this out. Give my wife her job back, with a raise. If she isn't rehired by tonight, I will start a lawsuit. Good day."

Percy stood up and walked out before he could reply. He peered back once to see Mr.Hunter staring at him, clearly aghast.

He got back in his car and drove around a bit before returning to their apartment, where Annabeth sat waiting for him at the counter.

"I'm sorry," Percy started, but she just rushed over to him and pulled him into a hug. "What happened?"

Annabeth wiped the tears out of her eyes and smiled at him. "The job—I got my old job back. With a raise!"

Percy smiled. "Im surprised it took them so long! The company was probably crumbling without you, you know."

"Thanks, seaweed brain," she said with a laugh. "I guess we're staying in New York!" 

"I'm glad," Percy replied. "Shall I go get some champagne?"

Annabeth shrugged. "Sure. See you in a bit. Gods, I can't believe it!"

As Percy left the apartment he couldn't help but grin. He watched his wife grin with pride and he couldn't have been more happy about what he'd done.