As Annabeth heaved her bag up the stairs, her lungs burned from the cold. After being in California she'd forgotten about how cold New York was in the winter.

"You coming?" Annabeth asked as she turned her head to face Percy. He sat on the stairs wheezing, his luggage besides him.

"I....hate....traveling...." he murmured as he rubbed his temple impatiently. "Why...why did w-we leave again?"

Annabeth smirked and rolled her eyes before joining Percy at the end of the stairs. "I think it was because you love me tremendously."

"That's right," Percy whispered as he kissed her forehead. He heaved himself up and finished the treacherous climb.

Once they reached their apartment they both instantly fell onto the couch, which groaned from under them.

Percy reluctantly sat up to face Annabeth, who was taking her golden curls out of a ponytail. "We really need a new couch."

Annabeth huffed as she readjusted herself. "Add it to the list of new things we need."

After a moment of comfortable silence, Annabeth decided to stand up.

"Are you insane?" Percy asked as he eyed Annabeth up. She had headed to the entrance to get her bag-to unpack.

Annabeth's habit of instantly unpacking had always bugged Percy. Why couldn't she just sit down and relax?

"There's a note for us," Annabeth said as she picked up a flimsy sheet of lined paper from the counter. "Hey, does Leo have a key to our house?"

Percy, instantly curious, stood up and limped to the kitchen weakly. "I haven't given him any..."

Annabeth's eyes moved as she read the words sprawled out in Leo's messy recognizable handwriting.

"Read it to me," Percy begged as she scanned the page.

Annabeth sighed and began reading aloud:

"'Dear Percabeth, I am aware you are vacationing or whatever, but I have an announcement! Since I am terrible with remembering phone numbers and I didn't bother to write your numbers down, I broke into your home. I know that sounds alarming, but hey, you're reading this, so it worked.'"

Annabeth eyed the door suspiciously as if it were broken, but everything seemed normal and in place.

She cleared her throat and continued reading. "'Anyways, you are cordially invited to the grand opening of Leo and Calypso's Garage (we're still working on the title). So, we plan to see you two December 28th 2019. If you two are not there and haven't seen this letter, then you better be prepared to suck up to us, since Calypso is pretty excited. Anyways, the address is on the back. See you at 6:30-8:00! Peace out in demigodness and all that! Love, Leo!'"

Percy blinked and rubbed his face. "That was...interesting."

Annabeth snorted. "Agreed. So I suppose we should attend."

"Yeah, or Leo'll kill us. What time is it?" Percy asked. Then he checked his watch he'd gotten from Tyson. His expression changed to horror. "Oh, no, it's seven-thirty!"

Annabeth frowned and started hauling her luggage to their room. "What do you mean? It's the 27th."

Percy shook his head and dragged her to the door. He pulled out his phone and flashed the screen in her face. It read December 28th 2019. "Let's go!"

Annabeth cursed under her breath before grabbing her coat and keys. They rushed down to their car, while Annabeth was still murmuring things about not being able to put away her luggage.

Their car slipped across the ice filled roads, and sped past numerous cop cars. Nothing was worrying or stopping them from missing this grand opening.

"C-could you make sure we g-got there in o-one piece?" Annabeth begged through barred teeth. Her fingers were gripped to the sides of the car and her face was contorted with fear.

Percy pursed his lips and turned wildly, causing Annabeth's face to smash against the window. "Oops, sorry, but I'm trying the best I can! Do you have no faith in me?"

"I have faith," Annabeth tried to assure herself as Percy did another sharp turn. This time she kept her balance, although it was a miracle that she did. Percy's wild driving scared her, but today it was especially bad. How he'd even passed his driver's test seemed like a miracle to her.

Percy tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, his mind clearly somewhere else besides New York traffic. "What's the address again?"

Annabeth picked up the letter and re-read Leo's note. She repeated the address, to which Percy nodded.

"Hmm," he grunted. "We're almost there."

Annabeth released a sigh she wasn't aware she was holding. They were going to make it. Sure, they'd be a little late, but they would both be alive, which would be a miraculous feat since Percy was driving.

"We're here," Percy announced as he shut off the car. The two immediately clicked off their seat belts and rushed into the building, which was decorated with hastily made signs.

As they rushed inside, they were greeted by Hazel, who smiled with pleasure as she saw them.

"You too are so late!" she said worriedly and ushered them inside. "I can take your coats. Leo is in the back showing some people around. Be very apologetic."

Percy nodded and they both briefly thanked Hazel before making there way to the back of the store. Leo stood up front, wearing an unintentionally off-white button-up. He wore his usual leather suspenders, but today he wore a black blazer that he kept picking at the hem of (Calypso had probably made him wear it.)

As Leo noticed them, he quickly finished his conversation and excused himself. He made a beeline towards them.

Percy wanted to run, but, alas, Leo had caught them.

"You two!" he said. "Where were you?"

Annabeth sighed. "We're so sorry, Leo, but-um-our flight was delayed. And, as you said, you don't bother with phone numbers."

Leo turned a bit pink before shrugging. "Well, I guess you're here now. Let me show you around!"

Leo started going on an on about machinery and all these things that Percy and Annabeth were too ADHD to actually pay attention to. But they smiled and nodded along to the whole presentation.

"Sadly our presentation has come to a close," Leo said with a frown. Sadly? "Feel free to roam about until closing time. Then meet us in the back for a little Argo II reunion party."

Annabeth smiled, relieved there was actually something non-machine related planned. "Sounds great. See you soon."

Leo curtsied at them before heading over to a new group of customers entering.

Percy turned towards Annabeth and gripped her hand, squeezing it in his. "You wanna go find the others?"

Annabeth peered at the building, realizing how little Leo had actually presented. "Oh, in a minute."

"Uh-oh," Percy responded, a grin creeping on his face. "You're doing that thing again."

"What thing?" Annabeth asked, snapping back to reality.

Percy laughed cheekily. "That thing when you're being all serious architect-y! You kind of purse your lips and squint. A little pouting, stuff like that."

Percy quickly imitated the look, causing Annabeth to slap him playfully.

"I do not!" she exclaimed, although she knew exactly what he was talking about. "Go talk with Piper and Jason, they're over there." Annabeth gestured to the front of the store. "I'll only be a minute."

Percy clicked his tongue and started to walk off. "Sure you will."

Annabeth zoned all the noise out and started making her way to a particular aisle she had in mind-the blueprint aisle.

She stared at all the beautiful blue paper that held hundreds of plans. How could there be this many in one place?

After carefully examining the aisle, she selected a roll of thick blue paper, confident that it would fit in just fine at her firm.

"Hey, Leo," Annabeth said, snagging Leo from a crowd. "Do you plan on stocking this regularly?"

Leo examined the paper and shrugged. "I suppose I am now."

"Great," Annabeth said, a smile appearing on her lips. "Could I set a deal with you for stocking my firm? I'd have to run it by my boss,  but I'm sure she'd be okay with it as our blue print paper supplier just went out of business."

"You have a deal," Leo said proudly and shook her hand vigorously. "Don't be expecting any friend discounts, though!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. Typical.

"Go up front and have one of my employees make a note of it," Leo said. "I have employees!"

Annabeth smiled and made her way to the front of the store. There were several lines, all of which were full of people. Annabeth selected the least crowded line, one behind a woman with a stroller.

The baby in front of her started wailing, making the mother and everyone else in the line groan.

The mother quickly scooped up her baby and bounced them, placing their head on her shoulder.

The baby couldn't have been more than a few months old as it was tiny and had little hair. It's face was red and explosive, causing Annabeth to wince.

She quickly found the baby's bright eyes and smiled at it, hoping it would calm down. It returned her stare and suddenly became fascinated with her.

She smiled at the baby and waved, mouthing the word 'hi'. The baby's face cleared and returned her smile and giggled.

The mother turned to face Annabeth.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just looking at your baby," Annabeth explained nervously. "I-"

"Oh, no, it's fine," she said with astonishment. "You got her to calm down. How'd you do that?"

Annabeth laughed. "I dunno. Just a smile, I suppose?"

She nodded. "Do you have kids of your own?"

Annabeth shook her head in response. "No, but we're trying soon." What? Where was that coming from?

"Well, you're a natural," the mother replied before she was called up to the cashier.

Annabeth blinked and couldn't stop thinking about what she'd said. After she conversed with the cashier and confirmed the deal, she made her way over to Percy, who was examining a level.

"Do you see this?" he asked as he played with it, causing the bubble to move back and forth.

Annabeth smiled. Did I really choose him? "Percy?"

He nodded, still concentrating on the level. "Mmhmm?"

"I'm serious."

Percy sat down the level and his expression grew serious. "Is everything alright?"

"I think I'm ready," she explained. Before he started questing her, she spoke again. "I've thought it over and I'm sure. I want kids. And soon."

A lopsided smile appeared on his face and he pulled her into her a huge hug, one she never wanted to end.

"I just have one question," Percy said as they pulled apart.

Annabeth nodded as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Ask away."

Percy frowned. "When-when we have a kid, will it be born from your head and have a belly button, or-?"

He cracked a grin as Annabeth playfully shoved him. "Oh, come on, you have to admit that that was hilarious!"