Percy's POV
My alarm went off at 5:30 and I jumped out of bed. "We're going to the beach today!" I thought happily. Annabeth wasn't in bed so I assumed she was already up getting the kids. I took a quick shower, got dressed and brushed my teeth, and went to go make a pot of coffee. I saw Annabeth curled up in a ball on the sofa still in her pajamas holding a box of tissues like a teddy bear.

I tapped her shoulder and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Hey Beth, it's time to get ready for the beach!" I whispered excitedly.

"Hey Perce I don't think I can go. I feel absolutely awful," she said coughing.

"Aw c'mon Beth it's our vacation. You have to come! It won't be fun without you."

"Sorry, I think caught Luke's cold and I don't wanna make the other kids or you sick. You guys go and enjoy yourselves. I'll be alright here. I'd hate to ruin the fun or make you guys have to postpone," she said shivering.

"Okayyy," I said reluctantly. "I think you have more than just a little cold though. You've been shivering and you've been kinda sick for a couple days. How about I drop you off at my mom's and she can take care of you." I said going back to our room and packing her a smaller bag with more pajamas and comfy slippers and less bikinis and flip flops. I ran upstairs and got the kids and put Selena in the car while Charlie got Luke and put him in the car. Annabeth climbed in still in her pajamas with bagel sandwiches she made for all of us. We passed them out and the car was silent as every child ate their sandwich. As I was driving a realization hit me.

"Wait, Annabeth, I have to take care of all 4 kids at the beach...You have to come with us!"

"No Percy you'll be fine. Besides Charlie and Zoe know how to take care of the twins too, right guys?" She asked looking into the mirror at them.

"Yep Mommy I do!" Our 10 year old Zoe piped in. Boy she was already pretty with her black loose curls to her mid-back and grey eyes exactly like Annabeth's. The kids were on spring break and Zoe was going to be starting 5th grade in a couple weeks.

Charlie started to say, "well actually I don't really know how to..." but I guess Annabeth gave him a look and he finished with, "Yeah, yeah I'm a pro at taking care of babies they're my specialty." Annabeth smiled.

"See? Nothing to worry about!" She said.

Charlie stifled a laugh and muttered, "I bet he doesn't last 2 days without mom before he breaks down." He was blonde with green eyes like mine and he was going to be finishing 7th grade soon. Wow our kids were growing up.

"You wanna bet on that Charlie?" I asked him.

"Yeah I do actually. Bring it on!"

"20 bucks I don't break down." I stated.

"You got yourself a deal." he said and I leaned my arm back and shook his hand. I saw Annabeth roll her eyes. We then pulled into the lot of my parents apartment. I climbed out and grabbed Annabeth's suitcase.

"Ok guys I'm gonna be right back. Just stay here because otherwise Grandma will talk forever and we need to get on the road," I said giving my kids the pep talk. They all nodded and Charlie went back to playing on his tablet.

I knocked on the door and Annabeth and I waited together for a couple seconds. Finally my mom opened the door and cried,

"Percy! Annabeth! What a pleasure to see both of you!" And she wrapped us each in a huge hug.

"Hey mom," I said kissing her cheek. "Is it ok if Annabeth stays with you for a couple of days since today the kids and us were going to the beach but Annabeth got sick and now doesn't want to come to make everyone else sick and I didn't want to leave her home alone." I said letting out a big breath after.

"Oh of course! Annabeth darling you're always welcome here you know that! Oh let me put on a cup of tea and get you some toast," She said heading over to the kitchen.

I carried Annabeth's stuff upstairs with her placing it in my old room.

"You can sleep in my room," I said picking her up and placing her on the bed her feet dangling off the edge. She gave me a kiss.

"You'll be fine Seaweed Brain. If you need anything call me. Have fun, ok?" Annabeth said.

"Ok I will," I laughed. "Thanks Beth. I'll miss you." she hopped off the bed and we walked back downstairs.

"Ok bye Mom," I said. "thanks again.. Bye Wise Girl. Love you."

"Love you too." and then I left, jumping in the car and starting the engine.

"WHOS READY FOR AN AWESOME TRIP TO THE BEACH?!" I yelled jumping onto the highway.

"WE ARE!" All the kids yelled back.

We were driving for about an hour, playing games and stuff and then the twins fell asleep. I made the mistake of asking Charlie if there were any girls in his life and then he got all mad since he missed Meredith.

"Hey, you'll see her in like a month for camp. Or we can have her over for your birthday and we can do a big 13th birthday party." He seemed to like that idea.

I asked Zoe if she had any boys in her life even though I knew she didn't. No 9 year old does.

"Actually Daddy I have a boyfriend!" She said happily.

"WHAT?!" Charlie and I said at the same time.

"Yeah! His name is Justin and he's really nice."

"When did you and this Justin...hook up..." I asked suspicious.

"Ummmm about a week before Spring Break," she said.

"Ohhhhh...okkkk...." I said. Luckily right then Luke woke up screaming

"I have to peeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

"Oh great," I sighed. "Well the sign says the nearest gas station is about 5 minutes from here!" I said driving a little faster.

"Daddy I have to pee toooo!" Selena said waking up now as well.

"Oh fabulous," Charlie said rolling his eyes.

"HURRY DADDY HURRY!" Luke yelled.

"I DONT THINK I CAN HOLD IT ANY LONGER!" Selena yelled as well.

I drove into that station so fast it would've given a race car driver a run for his money. We unbuckled the twins and I carried them both inside. I practically tossed Selena to Zoe and I ran with Luke to the men's room. We must've looked like quite the group of people.

We finally arrived at the beach an hour and a half later and we unpacked our bags. The first thing all the kids wanted to do was go down to the beach so we all got dressed and they lined up for sunscreen. Charlie went and did his own but I had to lather up Zoe and the twins just like Annabeth said too. I got Selena done and said,

"Ok, you have to let it dry and soak in for about 15 minutes so stand over there."

She walked over and stood against the wall so she wouldn't make a mess. I went to apply sunscreen to Luke when I looked over and saw Selena sitting on the couch.

"Selena! Don't get sunscreen on the couch!" I cried staring at the big white stain she just left. "please, just stand against the wall."

I got Luke all done and he went and joined his sister.

I went to do Zoe when I realized she wasn't there.

"Zoe!" I yelled. "Get back here!"

A dripping wet Zoe came inside from just jumping in the pool leaving puddles behind.

"Zoe dry off, I thought you wanted to go to the beach?"

"I do daddy but I was testing out the pool," she said and I groaned.

"Too much for you to handle Dad?" Charlie whispered in my ear as he walked by me.

"No way mister Ive got this all under control," I answered.

"Ok then, mister, where's Selena and Luke?" He asked and I panicked for a spilt second before I saw them each do a cannonball into the pool. So much for letting the sunscreen dry, I thought.

"Oh I told them to go in the pool," I said casually.

"Ok sureeeee," Charlie said rolling his eyes as I ran outside to dry them off.

An hour later we were walking down to the beach.

"Ok listen up everybody, I need to be able to see you at all times. And no going in the ocean without permission. I know you all know how to swim but the waves might be a little rougher than you can each handle," I said setting down all the toys and umbrella and cooler on the sand. They all nodded. We set up the umbrella and Selena and Zoe began to play in the sand. Eventually all of us had made a giant sand castle complete with rooms and a moat and even a throne for the king and Queen. I took a picture of all the kids in front of it for Annabeth. Then we ate an early dinner of ham sandwiches and we finished by playing in the ocean. People must've looked a little weird at us and even the lifeguards told me to watch my kids better since we all were pretty deep in the ocean and each child just bobbed up and down with each wave by themselves. Meanwhile the 1st grader next to us was being held by his mom and looked like he had never swam in his life. We all laughed when I made each of them a little chair to sit in. We finished the day by grabbing soft serve ice cream at the boardwalk.

"Well this was a fun afternoon wasn't it?" I asked the kids as they silently licked their ice cream cones.

"Yeah Dad, you did well," Zoe said.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Selena?"

"I just spilled all my ice cream on the ground," she said a single tear sliding down her face.

"Oh no," I grumbled but Charlie snickered at me and I immediately took action.

"No no Sweetie it's all good! I'll get you a new one right away! Just wait right here," I said running to get a new chocolate and vanilla mix.

We headed home after that and I got everyone into bed after playing a game of Clue. I have no idea how Luke, the kindergartener, beat me but whatever. Curse his Athena genes! The kids fell asleep and I FaceTimed Annabeth.

"Hey Beth how are you?" I asked her when she picked up. "Are you feeling ok?"

"Oh I'm fine, I'm loads better. Sally is awesome. How's the beach? You guys having fun?" She asked.

I didn't want to make her feel bad so I settled with, "oh yeah it's fun, everyone's doing fine. We miss you though."

"I miss you guys too," she said blowing me a kiss. "Ok I'm gonna to bed now." she said.

"Ok me too. I love you and get better!" I said.

"Thanks Seaweed Brain. I love you too. Bye." and then we hung up.

I climbed into bed and fell asleep thinking, even without Annabeth, this might be a pretty great vacation.

Hey guys! Hoped you liked the chapter! Is everyone off school by now and on summer vacation?? Comment something you're excited to do this summer! Love you guys ❤️