Percabeth Fluff

A Playdate in New Rome

Hey guys, it's Sophia!! I haven't uploaded in a longgg time as I've been busy with school and everything, but I'm on Thanksgiving break right now, so I decided to update. Hope you enjoy the story! -Soph

The sun was high over New Rome, its rays glinting off the golden architecture of the city's temples and homes. The warm, Mediterranean breeze stirred the trees in the gardens, carrying the scent of olive oil and blooming roses. In a large courtyard near the heart of the city, Annabeth Chase Jackson, now a renowned architect and strategist for the Roman demigods, set down a picnic basket beside a stone bench, her eyes scanning the area for her husband.

Percy Jackson, once the boy who had wielded a sword against monsters and gods alike, was now a respected figure in the city, working as a liaison between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter. He had traded in his old battle armor for tailored shirts and khakis, but the familiar twinkle of mischief in his sea-green eyes remained the same.

"Hey, we're gonna need more sunscreen," Percy said, holding up an orange bottle. "We don't want the kids turning into lobsters again." He smiled as he approached Annabeth, his arm automatically resting on her shoulder. Silena and Luke, who were running ahead, giggled as they chased each other.

Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him. "You're the one who kept insisting on a picnic by the fountain. You know, where there's no shade?"

Percy chuckled and shrugged. "I like to live dangerously."

The twins, who were eight years old, looked the spitting image of their parents. Silena, with her mother's gray eyes and blond hair, was the quieter of the two, while Luke, with his unruly dark hair and mischievous smile, was the one always causing trouble. Right now, he was giving his sister a head start in a race, only to deliberately trip on purpose and then laugh as she stumbled into a fountain.

"Luke!" Annabeth called, raising her voice just enough to be heard. "That's the third time this week you've done that!"

"Sorry, Mom!" Luke yelled back, looking completely unapologetic, though he offered Silena a hand as she grinned despite herself. The twins' constant bickering was a familiar background noise for Annabeth and Percy.

From across the courtyard, the sound of laughter drew their attention, and they both turned to see Will Solace and Nico di Angelo walking toward them with their three children—Bianca, Michael, and Lee.

Will, with his sun-kissed hair and ever-present smile, was talking animatedly with Percy, while Nico, ever the more serious one, was quietly guiding their kids. Bianca, the oldest, was 12 now, with dark eyes that gleamed with intelligence. Michael, 9, had his father's calm, unflappable demeanor, and Lee, only six, was a ball of energy, bouncing around in a way that reminded Annabeth of her own childhood.

"Will, Nico," Annabeth greeted, waving them over. "It's good to see you guys!"

Will flashed a grin. "We wouldn't miss it! The kids have been looking forward to this for days."

"Or maybe you were looking forward to it," Nico said with a dry smile. "We all know how you love these picnics."

"Oh, absolutely," Will said, plopping down on the blanket and pulling out a sandwich. "You know me too well."

Lee, spotting the twins, dashed over immediately, her small feet kicking up dust as she raced toward them. "Silena! Luke! Wait up!"

Luke, who had been preparing to pull another prank, brightened at the sight of his new playmate. "Race you to the fountain!" he yelled, and the two girls took off, with Lee yelling something about how she would win this time.

Nico, sitting down beside Annabeth, glanced at the scene, his face softening slightly as he watched his children interact. "They've grown up so fast," he murmured.

"Tell me about it," Annabeth said, her voice laced with a touch of wistfulness. "One minute, they're learning to walk, the next, they're plotting mischief with your kids."

Percy sat down beside Annabeth and nudged her playfully with his elbow. "And who do you think they got that from?"

"Definitely not me," Annabeth said, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "I'm the one trying to teach them how to be responsible. You're the one who gave them the idea to fill the water balloons and start an all-out war."

"Well, it wasn't my fault," Percy grinned. "I was just trying to get them ready for future adventures."

"Uh-huh." Annabeth shook her head, but she couldn't help but smile. Percy had always been the one to turn everything into an adventure.

Meanwhile, Will was keeping an eye on the kids, ready to intervene if things got out of hand, though it looked like they were mostly content running circles around each other. Michael, more reserved, was sitting with his back to a tree, reading a book while Lee tried to drag him into some new game involving imaginary monsters.

"It's crazy, huh?" Percy said, looking around at their kids. "Feels like just yesterday they were babies. I mean, I remember when Silena was just a little girl, trying to boss me around. And now look at her, keeping up with Luke's insane antics."

Nico, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest, watched the children with quiet contentment. "I don't mind," he said. "It's nice to see them growing up... especially with everything that happened."

Annabeth nodded, understanding what he meant. They had all been through so much in their younger years—the wars, the gods, the monsters—but here they were, watching their children run wild, filled with promise and innocence. They had done their part in keeping the world safe, and now it was their children's turn to figure things out.

Luke, as if sensing his parents' conversation, ran over with a grin. "Mom, Dad, look! I'm gonna make Lee fly!"

Annabeth shot Percy an amused look. "Maybe it's time we teach him some control before he ends up in the Underworld."

Percy, ever the optimist, just shrugged. "If he ends up in the Underworld, at least he'll have a good story to tell. Don't worry. He'll be fine."