The morning was bright, too bright got Annabeth's liking. She reluctantly opened her eyes and turned to face her alarm clock-which caused her to immediately go into a panic.

It was ten in the morning, three hours after Annabeth's alarm was supposed to go off. She frantically jumped out of bed and dressed herself hastily. Then she rushed into the kitchen, where Percy stood over the oven.

"Good morning, Wisegirl," he replied without looking up. "Go sit on the couch and I'll deliver this to you."

Annabeth blinked at him. "Percy, it's ten! My alarm didn't go off..."

"I know," Percy said as she poured the breakfast he'd made onto a plate. "I turned it off."

"You-you turned it off? Why?!" she demanded of him.

Percy shook his head and set down the plate. He walked over to her. "You looked so tired. Now stop yelling, it's not good for the baby."

"Today is almost wasted away!" Annabeth argued on. "I have important work to do-"

"I'm sure you do," Percy said with a nod. "Now please sit down and eat."

Annabeth didn't budge. "I need to find my work bag and-"

Percy, before letting her finish, scooped her up and walked her over to the couch, despite her complaints.

"Percy, let me go! Percy!" she shouted as he gently placed her on the couch.

"I need you to rest," he replied as she shot back up again, causing him to sigh. "You're going insane, Annabeth."

Annabeth huffed and crossed her arms. "I'm going insane? You've barely let me leave the house! And every day you grow more paranoid."

"I'm just worried about you," Percy responded truthfully. "You're having our baby, and that's a big deal. Anything's a big deal when you're a demigod."

"I...I suppose you're right, but can you stop freaking out over every little thing?" she begged him.

Percy sighed. "I'll....I'll try my best. It's just, you're so frantic that I bet you even forgot about your appointment."

Annabeth's face went blank, as well as her mind. "What appointment?"

"Your doctor's appointment," Percy said with an eye roll.

"What doctor's-oh crap!" Annabeth yelled. She immediately rushed to the door.

"Chill," Percy replied with a small laugh. "It's not until eleven, you have time."

Annabeth sighed as she reluctantly sunk back into the couch. Percy shortly joined her and delivered her her freshly made breakfast-which tasted pretty good for Percy making it.

"Thanks," she muttered as he wrapped an arm around her. "I wish I could do this for you. I wish you'd let me."

Percy replied with a grin and small shake of his head. "Annabeth, you're already doing a huge favor for me right now, so let me take care of you."

"I just wish-" she started.

"Shh, it's alright," he said. "If you want you can make me breakfast every day after the baby comes."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "There he is."

~

After Annabeth finished eating, she insisted on cleaning up. Percy watched nervously from the counter as she placed everything neatly back into the fridge.

"Let's get going now," he urged as she reached for the broom. "I, uh, just swept this morning."

Annabeth narrowed her cool gray eyes at him, seeing through his lie. But one quick glance at the ticking clock made her forget all about sweeping. "I suppose it wouldn't be great to show up late."

Annabeth placed on her jacket before reaching for the keys.

"Hey, not so fast," Percy called out at her. "Where are your mittens? Scarf? Hat? Boots?"

"Percy!" Annabeth pleaded. "It's not that cold out. You're killing me!"

Percy shrugged and led her back inside. "I don't care. It's January, and it's freezing out there. You know how New York winters are!"

Once Annabeth was swaddled you to Percy's satisfaction, they were off.

"Nice car," Annabeth mocked Percy as they climbed in his new car-a very sensible navy blue Kia. "Very macho."

Percy rolled his eyes as he buckled himself in. "You're the reason for this car, so be quiet."

Annabeth obeyed his wishes up until they arrived at the doctor's office. Percy parked in a spot near the entrance and helped her out of her seat.

"You're treating me like royalty," she teased him as he opened the hospital doors for her. "I could get used to this."

"Well please do," Percy responded as he led her to the check in desk. After checking her in, they took a seat near the door to the check up rooms.

The room was bland, as most doctor's offices tend to be. A row of check in desks sat up from with bored looking receptionists behind them. A sea of uncomfortable gray plastic seats lined the room and tacky wall art plastered the sides of the room.

"Do you need water? Hand sanitizer?" Percy asked as he pointed towards the side of the room.

Annabeth shook her head and started casually flipping through a nearby magazine, causing Percy to flinch. "I'm good."

"You sure?" Percy asked. "I heard that there's a bad bought of the flu going around and I-"

"Percy, I'm fine," Annabeth said with a laugh. "Now could you please stop worrying and acting like I'm going to drop down dead any second now?"

Percy bit his lip and nodded. Then he dropped his voice down low to a whisper. "I just...I just wish that we would've gone to camp and had a check up there. It's so much safer..."

"You know camp isn't equipped for something like this," Annabeth said as she located Percy's hand, wrapping it in hers.

"I know. But New Rome is. Maybe we could-"

"We're not going to California for a doctor's appointment every few weeks," Annabeth retorted without looking up at him.

Percy sighed. "I-I know that...I just wish..."

"We're not moving to New Rome, either."

"Not even just for a year?"

"Not even for just a year."

Percy nodded, trying to stay calm, but couldn't contain his worry. He peered at his watch, fearing they had been late, but they were on time. He tapped his feet anxiously against the chair and fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, his ADHD getting to him.

Annabeth ignored him, although she was shaking her own knees. Despite her calm and collected look, she also had ADHD, something people tended to forget about her.

"Annabeth?" a woman in light blue scrubs with pulled back light brown hair asked, a wide smile on their face.

Percy helped Annabeth up, despite her complaints. They followed the nurse to a plain check up room adorned with medical equipment.

"Name?" the nurse asked as she logged into her computer.

"Annabeth Chase-Jackson," Annabeth replied.

"Okay...." the woman said as she typed the name up. She smiled as she located Annabeth's file and confirmed her birthday. "So, my name is Tiffany, and I'll just give you a quick check-up before your doctor comes, does that sound alright with you?"

Annabeth nodded. "Perfect."

Tiffany checked her heart beat, breathing, reflexes, and every other basic check-up thing. "Well, you look as healthy as could be, Annabeth. I don't think I've ever seen someone this healthy."

Demigods often got that response after a mortal check up. They were half Gods, after all.

"So, no health concerns?" Percy asked, budding in. "No abnormal breathing, heartbeat. Nothing? You sure she shouldn't just, uh, take it easy?"

The nurse laughed. "No, Mr.Jackson. She seems perfectly healthy. I can look again if that'll calm your nerves, though."

As Percy was about to accept, Annabeth swatted him away. "Err, we're fine, thank you."

She flashed a bright smile at the two of them before shutting off her computer and walking towards the door. "The doctor will be in soon."

Annabeth waited and watched until the door was fully closed before slapping Percy. "What the hell, Jackson? You told me you'd be more cool!"

"Woah, woah, chill," Percy replied with a slight grin. "You being mad isn't good for-"

Percy stopped mid-sentence, Annabeth's warning glare appearing. He sighed and turned his attention to the door, anxiously tapping his feet against the chair.

After a few long minutes, Percy got his wish as a woman dressed in a white coat rushed in, a rehearsed smile plastered to her face.

She offered both Percy and Annabeth a handshake before speaking. "I'm Doctor Melissa McNeil. I'll be assisting your needs throughout your pregnancy. First off, any concerns before we get started?"

Percy wanted to shout his concerns, but Annabeth's stormy gray eyes made him swallow his words.

"No questions or concerns? Great." She pulled on two medical gloves and started up the machine. "If you'd just sit right down here, Annabeth..."

Annabeth slowly rose to her feet and walked over to the machine. Percy could tell by her squirminess that she was frightened, so she immediately swerved in to hold her hand.

Annabeth noticed Percy's gesture, but decided to ignore it until the appointment was over. Although she was glad he was there next to her.

"So, I can do this two ways," Doctor McNeil said and she turned to face them. "Either way is fine. While I'm doing this, I can explain to you everything that is happening or I can just be silent and make small talk."

Percy smirked. "I know Annabeth will want to know every-"

"Small talk, please," Annabeth said hoarsely, her throat clenching up with fear. Percy squinted at her and peered into his eyes, a questioning look on his face. Annabeth nodded, getting what he was asking.

Whenever they were in a battle or uncomfortable situation, they would turn to each other and wait for the other to signal back. A nod meant alright, and a shake of the head meant no.

It was a small gesture, but it gave Annabeth the small boost of courage she needed.

She closed her eyes as the doctor wiped cold liquid over her stomach. It was icy on her skin and made her shiver.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to mention it was cold, silly me," the doctor said plainly with a brief laugh. "Besides the coolness, everything feeling alright?"

Annabeth barred her teeth and muttered a quick response of yes without opening her eyes.

Percy watched as Doctor McNeil adjusted the sound on the speaker near the machine. A booming heartbeat suddenly appeared in the room. Percy's jaw dropped and his eyes became transfixed to the screen.

"Is it over? Is-is something...wrong...?" Annabeth said in a hushed whisper, almost inaudible. She placed her hands on her face, muttering curses. "I knew it."

"No, no...everything's...perfect," Percy said as she squeezed her hand, letting her know everything was okay. "Open your eyes."

Annabeth was reluctant but she trusted Percy more than anyone else in the world, so she pried her eyes open.

"That's your baby," Doctor McNeil said with a smile. "Would you like a picture?"

They both nodded vigorously before Annabeth spoke. "Several, please."

The doctor nodded before rushing off to get the pictures. Although she wanted to speak, Annabeth's throat was too dry to.

"They're gorgeous," was all Percy could muster.

Annabeth wanted to laugh at him. All it was was a little black and white shape, but she couldn't argue. She partially agreed.