"....happy birthday to you," Percy and Annabeth sung together, "happy birthday dear Marina, happy birthday to you!"

Marina, not aware of what was happening, just giggled along.

"You're one now, kid," said Percy, who headed to the kitchen to get her breakfast. "I bet she's so psyched."

Annabeth rolled her eyes before peering back at Marina. "I don't think she knows. Did I really just sing for nothing?"

Percy laughed and re entered their dining room. "I think she knows somewhat. Besides, I love when you sing."

The two fed Marina and chatted about the upcoming party they were throwing for her, which she probably had no clue about.

"So everyone's coming at eleven?" asked Annabeth, who nervously looked around their messy apartment.

Percy nodded, a grin on his face. "Two more hours. I think we can do it."

"Why did we have to have it so early?" Annabeth wondered, a curse under her breathe. "Alright, I'll clean up Marina, you can clean up the apartment."

Percy shuddered. "All of it? Not even, just like, the living room?"

Annabeth sighed and placed her hands on her hips. "All of it, Jackson. And don't just shove things under our couch."

After painstakingly cleaning the apartment, they decorated it and got ready. Their first guests arrived several minutes early.

Percy opened the door to see his mom, step-dad, and little sister all standing there, all wearing matching smiles.

"How's my Marina?" Sally asked, running over to Annabeth who was holding her.

"Percy!" Estelle squealed, rushing into his arms. Percy scooped her up immediately.

"How are you, Estelle?" he asked, bouncing her in his arms. Although Estelle was almost five now, Percy still treated her as a baby.

Estelle grinned. "Excited. Are we having cake?"

Percy laughed and set her down. "You're just like me, Estelle. And yes, we are. Blue cake."

Estelle jumped with joy. Although she had no clue why Percy and Sally enjoyed blue foods, she didn't stop and hesitate to ask, she just ate it and smiled along.

"Are we too early?" Paul asked as he noticed the almost vacant apartment. "Sally insisted on coming early."

Sally looked up from playing with Marina. "I didn't want to miss my only grandchild's birthday! I can't believe she's one already, it seems like just yesterday she was born!"

Annabeth smiled and nodded. "I know. It seems impossible."

"Are you two planning on having another?" Sally asked, a wide grin on her face. "Don't wait eighteen years like I did."

Percy peered at Annabeth before nervously laughing. "I dunno, mom. We'll, uh, let you know."

Then a knock at the door interrupted their conversation.

"We should go get that," Annabeth said with a nervous laugh, pulling Percy behind her to the door.

They opened their door and saw Piper and Jason standing there, wearing matching smiles.

"Hey, guys! We brought someone extra if you don't mind," Jason said, readjusting his grip on the baby in his arms. "This is Romeo."

Romeo was barely awake. He had Piper's kaleidoscope eyes and Jason's bright blond hair.

"Oh my gods, why didn't you tell us earlier? How old is he?" asked Annabeth, who had shifted her attention to the baby.

Piper smiled and rubbed Romeo's chubby cheeks. "He came a bit early and we didn't want to alarm anyone. He was released from the hospital about three weeks ago."

Percy nodded. "He's beautiful, guys, good job. Now Marina has a little friend to play with."

"Speaking of her," Piper said. "Where is she? I want to wish my little niece a happy birthday!"

"She's in there by Sally," Annabeth replied. "We'll be right back, I just need to talk to Percy in the hall."

Percy stared at her in confusion. "What? Oh, uh, yeah. We'll be right back."

Annabeth watched as Percy closed the door before talking. "So...."

"So....so what?" he asked. "Why did you want to talk?"

"About the...." she said with a glare. "Do we tell them, or...?"

Percy shrugged, placing his hands in his pockets. "I mean, we can. I think we should."

Annabeth sighed and placed her hands on her hips. "I don't know. This party is about Marina and Piper just had a baby, I don't want to steal her thunder or something. But, on the other hand, it is kind of noticeable."

"It kinda look like mom knows already," Percy agreed with a sigh.

"We should keep it a secret," Annabeth decided. "Besides, what if something goes wrong, or-"

"Nothing will go wrong," Percy assured Annabeth, pulling her into a hug. "But if it'll make you feel better, we'll keep it a secret."

Annabeth smiled weakly before tucking a strand of her hair back. "Okay, you're right."

"About what?" Leo asked, causing them both to flinch. "Percy is rarely right, I need to hear this!"

Percy wavered before speaking. "Uh, about the cake. I think we should serve it now."

Leo nodded. "You're totally right. Calypso, we came just in time!"

Calypso rolled her eyes before greeting the two of them. "I can't believe Marina is already one! It feels like she was born yesterday."

"I know," Annabeth agreed. "Let's go in now."

They showed them inside and, on Percy and Leo's request, cut the cake and served it before lunch.

Marina loved her cake, to say the least. They'd gone with a blue one, per Percy's request, which ended up staining Marina's entire face.

"She looks so darling," Sally said, a twinkle in her eye. "She kinda looks like you when you eat cake."

Percy laughed. "Yeah, no kidding.....hey, mom, could I talk to you for a second?"

"Any time. What is it, sweetheart?" Sally asked, not breaking her gaze at Marina.

Percy shrugged before pointing down the hall towards Marina's room. "In private, maybe?"

Sally frowned. "Of course. Lead the way."

They slipped away to Marina's bedroom without anyone noticing, which was lucky since Annabeth was on high alert.

"What is it?" Sally asked, folding her arms on her chest. "What did you do this time?"

Percy smirked. "Nothing bad, although that is hard to believe. Mom, Annabeth's pregnant again."

A smile developed on Sally's face that reached up to her ears. She clapped, joy clearly animated on her face. "My-that's great news, Percy! How far along is she? Do you know the gender?"

"No, we don't know too much yet," Percy replied with a small smile cracking on his face. "She's—"

"Percy!" the familiar voice of Annabeth called. "Do you want cake or not?"

"I have to go, but why don't we talk later?" Percy asked. "Call me after the party, okay?"

Sally, who still hadn't dropped her smile, nodded, clearly ecstatic. She followed him out of the bedroom before rushing over to Paul.

"Hey, where were you?" Annabeth asked, causing him to drop his smile. "I was worried. It's not like you to skip cake."

Percy nodded and took the piece she'd reserved for him. "Uh, bathroom. How are you?"

"Good....? Why are you acting weird?" she asked him, clearly not amused. She stuck her hand forcefully to his forehead. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," he replied, waving away her hand.

She frowned. "Could I talk to you in the hall?"

Percy followed Annabeth to the hall where she stood, glaring at him.

"Now, what did you do?"

"Nothing, I swear! I'm innocent," Percy declared. Annabeth rolled her eyes and stared him down. "Fine, fine! I told mom you're pregnant."

Annabeth blinked at him. "After we agreed not to?"

He nodded briskly.

"You're lucky it was only Sally," she warned, a harsh expression on her face. "You did tell her it's a secret, right?"

"I mentioned it," said Percy, who wasn't exactly sure he had. "Now let's get back inside. People
will be...suspicious."

Annabeth agreed and the two demigods walked inside, closing the heavy door behind them. When they arrived inside all eyes were on them and the chatter had stopped.

"What?" Annabeth asked nervously, peering at the group.

Piper spoke first. Her words were fast and defensive, although there was a hint of shock and happiness in it. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Percy's face turned bright red as he spoke. "T-tell you guys what?" He ended his statement with a nervous laugh, which fooled no one, not even Annabeth.

Annabeth, still trying to contain the secret, spoke next. "What are you talking about, Pipes?"

Piper glared. "Oh, come on! It's obvious to me now-you're pregnant."

"Wha-how-?" Annabeth stammered, her face burning. "Who told you...?"

"Estelle, if you must know," Piper shot back, her eyes narrowing. "Why does that matter? How far along are you?"

"Four and a half months," Annabeth replied, unaware to stop. She could feel Piper's charmspeak roll over her in a wave. "Who here all knew?"

Everyone raised their hands, including a sheepish looking Percy.

"Sally, you told-?" Annabeth started.

"She didn't know!" Percy jumped in defensively. Sally stared confusedly at them. "I forgot to tell her she couldn't tell anyone! I'm sorry, wise girl!"

"I'm sorry, too," said Sally. "If I would've known it was a secret, I never would've told. And I only told Paul, who probably told Estelle, who told Piper."

"And I told everyone else," Piper finished. "We're not mad, just confused. Why didn't you tell us?"

Annabeth sighed. "We don't know. Didn't want to steal your thunder, if that makes any sense-"

"Congrats, you two, really," Piper said, a hint of a small smile on her face. They all nodded in agreement. "I think we'll all forget this if you agree to name the baby Piper in my honor."

"No! Leo Jr., it's gender-neutral!" Leo shrieked. Piper punched his arm in response, causing him to yelp. "Owwwuch!"

Piper smirked. "Seriously, you two. Piper Jr. works."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "We'll consider it."