Finding The Way Back To You

Four: I'll Build A House Out Of The Mess (And Broken Pieces)

MattMcWise
(Also oops... definetly the first time I'm posting this...👀)

Annabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You're joking, right?" Annabeth pressed.

"Well, did you guys use a condom?"

"I—"

"And when was the last time you and Luke fucked?" Peyton asked.

Annabeth didn't know what to say, really. Was Peyton right? Was Percy the one who did this to her?

"It doesn't matter, Luke will raise this kid." Annabeth decided.

"Beth, you can't be for real, right now." Anxiety laced Peyton's voice like they knew how much this could hurt everyone involved.

"People can get very hurt if I don't let Luke believe it's his kid."

"I mean, I can take Paul's car and we can go to planned parenthood right now if you want."

"I don't— I don't think I want to? Yeah, I just got my internship, and yeah, Luke hasn't proposed yet, but maybe if I tell him, he will."

"This plan is getting worse and worse, Annabeth. As your best friend, I can't let you do this."

"What else can I do, Pey? I can't tell Luke what happened, or he'll leave me, and I can't— I can't after everything I've been through— I won't survive it this time."

"Beth, I'll be there for you, okay? I promise. Yeah, we've had our ups and downs, but what best friends don't?"

Annabeth couldn't help but burst into tears, maybe her hormones were out of whack because of the baby, but Annabeth hadn't heard Peyton be so genuine with her in a long time.

"Exactly. Now will you please come over? And bring ice cream." Annabeth added.

"Yeah." Peyton harrumphed.

~

Annabeth sat down at her desk and started sketching out a timeline of how she needed her to lie to go; first, she'd surprise Luke at the airport this weekend, and then she'll kiss him, let him call her baby-girl since he seemed to love that so much, and just come out and tell him.

Peyton let themself in and plopped down on the couch.

"Annabeth, I'm here."

"Ice cream?"

"Yes, with ice cream." Annabeth could hear Peyton's eye roll as she stood up and joined them on the couch.

Annabeth stood up and walked out into her apartment where Peyton had not only brought the ice cream, they'd also brought Percy.

"Percy—"

"Hey, Beth." Percy waved, sprawling out over her couch, his leg over Peyton's and his head where her sectional had a footrest.

"Do you know?" Annabeth asked skeptically.

"Know what?"

"No, he doesn't know." Peyton assured her.

"Then why did you bring him?"

"What don't I know?" Percy interrupted.

"Are you gonna tell him, or should I?"

"Peyton, it's still too early to be telling people, please." Annabeth felt on the brink of tears.

"Well if what I assume is true, he should know."