The wind howled as Percy and Annabeth sat crouched over their dining room table as if preparing for a battle, their only source of light being a flickering lamp in the corner of the room.

"Which flowers?" Annabeth asked as she scooped up at least a dozen pictures of flowers.

Percy started down at the pictures and sighed. "I was never aware there were these many types of flowers."

Annabeth smiled weakly and spread the pictures over the table like playing cards. Each decision they made was influential and could cause their whole plan to fail. The plan was, of course, their wedding.

Wedding planning had began the day after they became engaged. Annabeth liked to be prepared so controlling her wedding was a perfect outlet for her. Percy liked seeing how cute Annabeth was when she became controlling and into her organizing/planning mode.

"I like those," Percy said and pointed at a group of multi-colored lilies. "What are they called?"

He flipped the card over to reveal the word 'lilies' sprawled out in Annabeth's neat handwriting.

"Hmm, how about these?" Annabeth asked as she pointed at a group of red roses. "They seem more...appropriate."

"And lilies are inappropriate?" Percy asked and rubbed his temple. "Gods, this is confusing..."

"Okay, um, I see why you like the lilies but aren't roses just, sort of..." Annabeth started, "more wedding-like?"

Percy sighed and slumped down in his chair. He peered at the roses. "I mean, I guess they aren't horrible."

"Well, they're more of a winter and fall flower. We don't even have a date, so we should choose that first," Annabeth decided and sat down, following Percy's example.

"I kind like a summer wedding," Percy admitted. "On a beach somewhere...the sound of the ocean currents with lilies scattered around..."

"Percy, we do have a budget on this wedding," Annabeth said and bit her lip. "Sorry to dismiss your dream wedding."

"What's yours?" Percy asked curiously, arching an eyebrow.

She smiled. "Winter. Where it's not too cold but not too warm. Around the beginning of December. We get married in a beautiful ballroom with gorgeous windows to reveal that snow is lightly falling outside. A violin plays softly in the background, and-"

"And my wedding idea was too expensive?" Percy asked with a snort.

Annabeth narrowed her eyes at him. "Hey, you didn't say it had to be budget realistic. You asked me what my dream was."

"True," he replied. "Let's just choose somewhere cheap. After all, won't we wanna spend some of our savings on other things like kids and stuff?"

Annabeth tensed up. Clearly she had forgotten to speak with Percy about having children.

"Uh..." Annabeth mumbled. "K-kids? We're spending our money on k-kids?"

"Yeah, they're pretty expensive," Percy said with a grin. "Don't you think? And besides, our kids will get the best stuff, like a golden crib, Gucci onesie-"

"Mm, I don't know how to tell you this," Annabeth said and bounced her knee uncomfortably.

Percy smiled. "Yeah, I started out with too high of expectations for our kid's stuff. You know I'm joking. I'm certain they'll get a decently priced not golden crib."

"Percy, ummm....that's not exactly what I meant."

Percy frowned. "No Gucci for our kids? C'mon, Annie, they deserve Gucci."

"I don't want kids," she blurted out. Percy frowned.

"How can you not want kids?" he asked, sounding stunned. "They're so adorable!"

"Oh, I dunno, maybe because we were just attacked by a group of hellhounds," Annabeth said. "Or the fact that we both want huge careers with long hours. Or the fact that I know we'll have to hand our kids over to camp or New Rome once they turn twelve and I'll have to watch them be in the next great prophecy and get injured. The list goes on and on, Percy."

Percy sighed. "I didn't know you felt this way about kids."

"Well, you never really asked," Annabeth said. "I guess it never really popped up."

They both sighed, feeling defeat by the other person.

"Let's have kids," Percy said. "They're cute and adorable and-and I want them!"

Annabeth sighed, tears welling in her eyes. "Percy, I said I didn't."

"I want to," Percy said, growing desperate. "I want kids so much, Annabeth. I want a cute little mix of us running around in the world."

"You don't understand," Annabeth breathed. "You're not the one who has to carry the thing around for nine months and not the one who has to deliver it. Your job is easy, mine is awful!"

"I know, I know, but I'd be by your side through it all," he promised. "Please."

"I can't, Percy," she said. "I can't give you an empty promise of wanting to have kids with you."

Percy's heart was crushed. So crushed that he needed to leave. He couldn't be around Annabeth, the one person he always wanted to be around.

He stood up and made his way to the door. He picked up his keys, wallet, and Riptide and walked out the door with Annabeth calling after him.

He ran down to the streets and wandered around in the harsh winds and cool rain until he found himself in front of a small apartment door.

"Leo?" he called as he pounded on the door. "Leo, are you in there?"

After a few moments of fear Percy could hear movement in the apartment. The door swung open to reveal a messy haired and tired eyed Leo.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Leo moaned. "It's three A.M."

Percy hadn't realized how law he'd stayed up with Annabeth.

"I'm sorry, I just need a place to crash," Percy said. Leo opened the door, revealing his small apartment.

Leo and Calypso had decided against going to New Rome like the rest of the seven had decided. Instead he'd enrolled in online college he could complete while working part time with Calypso at a low paying job as a waiter at a nearby diner. They were saving money to open a garage together, a dream of theirs they shared for quite a while.

"What happened?" Leo asked as he directed Percy to the couch. "Is Annabeth mad at you or something?"

"Yeah," Percy replied as he situate himself on the couch. "She doesn't want kids."

Leo nodded as he handed Percy an extra blanket and pillow.

"Leo, who's here?" Calypso asked groggily as she walked into the living room while rubbing her eyes.

"It's just Percy, I'll explain in the morning," Leo replied. Calypso nodded and walked back to her room.

"Thanks again, man," Percy said as lay down on the couch, thinking of Annabeth. "Thanks again."