Chapter Thirty-Four - I Sell Strollers (Excellently)
Posted: Friday 7th June 2024

Leto was making a killing in the post-Christmas sales, I was put on stroller duty and was practically sleepwalking my way through the day after having hardly slept due to the baby kicking all night, I wondered vaguely perhaps he was going to be the god of football.

"Hello, my name is Ariadne, welcome to Leto's Mothering Corner. What kind of stroller are you looking for today?" I said, looking down at my notes, incredibly bored, as two people approached me.

"Ri?" A familiar voice said.

I looked up to see Percy Jackson standing there beside a very pregnant woman who had to be his mother.

"Percy?"

"What are you doing here?" He asked, "you're working in a mother and baby shop? And- wow you're very pregant."

"I know," I sighed, "this is my punishment."

"Being pregnant?" Percy asked, "I thought you were already-"

"No, being here," I corrected.

"Zeus banished you to a mother and baby shop in Brooklyn?"

"It's horrible," I said.

"Shouldn't you be bouncing with the joy of impending motherhood?" Percy asked.

The woman smacked him lightly on the arm, "that's a myth Percy."

"Most myths I've come across are real," Percy reasoned.

The woman rolled her eyes. "Since my son is far too rude to introduce us, I'm Sally," she said. She stretched a hand out to me. I shook it.

"Ariadne," I said.

"Ah yes, Annabeth mentioned you, she'll be relieved to know you're safe-"

"-months Ri, you've been selling strollers a few blocks away from my house for months?" Percy said.

"Not by choice!" I complained. "And I most certainly haven't been enjoying it!"

"Ariadne, does there seem to be an issue over here?" I looked over to see Leto approaching us.

"Oh joy!" I muttered under my breath. Percy was instantly on his guard, his years of goddess spotting coming in handy.

"Who's your friend?" Percy asked, his hand casually snaking towards his pocket where I knew his lethal ballpoint pen to be hiding.

"Mother-In-Law," I corrected, "this is Leto."

"It's always a pleasure to meet an expectant mother," Leto smiled at Percy's mother.

"Okay, I think it's time we leave," Percy said, "we are not buying a stroller from a Titan. Do you wanna come Ri?"

"I'd love to, but I don't think said Titaness will let me," I said.

"I have no problem with it," Leto replied. I turned to her with my mouth hanging open. "Careful there child, you'll catch flies," she said in that irritating mothering tone she often took with me when she was slightly displeased with me.

I shut my mouth. "But- Zeus?" I stammered.

"Zeus does not command me," Leto scoffed, "I do as I please."

"You're saying you would have let me leave at any time?" I demanded, "I could have walked out months ago rather than selling strollers?"

"Motherhood is all about knowing when to let your children take flight," Leto mused, "as you embark upon this journey remember that." She smiled at me and I saw for the first time how obviously alike Apollo and his mother looked. Then she turned on her heel and pottered away to assist a young couple.

I turned back to Percy and his mother, in complete shock about what was going on.

Percy was watching the Titaness leave with just as much confusion as I felt. Then he shrugged. "Immortals," he muttered under his breath.

"So where are we going?" I asked.

"I think you can come back with us," Sally said, "But not before Percy helps me pick out a stroller."

*

Later that day saw me reunited with Annabeth who was going to school in New York. She and Percy took me through everything that had happened since I last saw them and Annabeth had some choice words to say to me about my prolonged absence.

"Look its not my fault that you guys don't frequent Leto's Mothering Corner," I said when I was able to get a word in.

"Just around the block!" Annabeth complained, "Almost six months!"

"I know, but it's not my fault!"

"I know," Annabeth sighed, "I'm just glad to see you alive."

She tried to pull me into a hug, but my fairly pregnant belly got slightly in the way.

"You've been checked out by a doctor right?" Annabeth asked, looking down at my stomach.

"Does a Titaness count?" I asked.

"No," Annabeth said flatly, "maybe we should go to camp?"

"You guys have a good thing going on here," I said, "Don't get sucked into all of this, I'll go to camp, you don't need to worry about me."

Annabeth and Percy both fixed me with looks.

"I'm fine guys really, just pleased to be out of that shop! I can make it to Long Island by myself, do I need to remind you that I'm immortal?"

Annabeth narrowed her eyes, "immortal, not invincible."

"I'll call a cab," I said, "I'll be in touch, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that one," Annabeth said.

Sally poked her head into the living room, "Will Ri be saying for dinner guys?"

"No I'll be heading off soon, thank you!" I said.

"Are you sure? We're having Spagetti," Sally said.

"I'm sure, I should get to camp," I said.

Sally smiled and me, and headed back to the kitchen.

I turned back to Percy and Annabeth and finally voiced the question that had been on the tip of my tongue since we had left Leto's shop.

"Apollo?"

"We haven't heard anything Ri, sorry," Annabeth said sympathetically.

"It's okay," I said, "he'll turn up eventually, he always does."