Seaweed and Wise - Never letting go

15. Victory

Percy's POV

"What are you talking about?" Malcolm laughed.
"Oh, I thought that you're going to scold me about Annabeth and all, well nevermind." I said as I tried to run past them but now Malcolm and Derek each grabbed one of my arms.
"You're not going anywhere now that you started this." Malcolm said.
I sighed.
"Fine, macho man, what is it then?" I didn't want to fight with someone I was okay with. But I could. It scared me that I was so sure, but I knew so.
Derek scoffed a little. "I actually wanted to ask for some diving lessons in the open sea but as you mentioned Beth..."
"Derek, you know that she hates when you call her that." I told him off.
"Whatever," Derek shrugged and Malcolm stepped in.
"I know that I cannot tell you anything because you're literally the best guy for her, as hard as it is to say that. But as her brother I just have to say that if anything ever happens then I will-"
Someone ran towards me from behind, I knew the light footing by heart.
"Eat your own smelly socks, you wanted to say?" Annabeth called from behind me and I sighed in relief as she came to my side.
"Hey there, fiancee." I made sure that the last word sounded really clear and loud. Just to poke into the fire.
"Yeah we get it," Derek rolled his eyes. "So can I count on you?" He asked and I nodded.
"Sure, just take the equipment and tell me when you're free. I'm not following the schedule for years already anyway." I laughed. Kind of sad of me to say that.
"Thanks, tomorrow then." He said as he ran away towards the armory. Malcolm walked to the cabin with us.
"I originally wanted to talk about smelly socks, Percy, just not mine. Dude clean after yourself! I had to kick your dirty clothes out from under my bed today."
I have to admit I was a little ashamed, but grateful that Annabeth had such siblings
"And Annabeth, what you said to Drew was a little over the line. She took it quite personally." Malcolm walked backwards to face us.
"Yeah, I know. And I already apologized, that's what took me so long. I met her in the bathrooms so we had a little chat..." Annabeth said.
"You know she likes you, Malcolm?"
"Don't know if that's bad or just terrifying!" Malcolm laughed.
But I thought I glanced a little something in his eyes.
Just as we opened the door to the cabin, we heard Leo yelling from behind. "Hey! Stop guys, come here!" He called. "Frank and Hazel arrived..."
Piper ran into our cabin and took Annabeth's hand, dragging her wherever Frank and Hazel were.
"There's- just come on." Piper said. The two of them seemed in an almost shock, it reminded me of the times on Argo.
We ran with Piper and Leo towards the Big house, leaving Malcolm behind.
What we found there... I would never be ready for it. Not if someone told me a month ago, not ever.
"Whoa, what!?" I exclaimed stupidly as I looked at Hazel and Frank. The surprise threw me back a few feet and I stumbled into Annabeth who ran a little behind me.
Both Frank and Hazel seemed more sleep deprived than I felt, and that was something to say.
Hazel was holding a little baby wrapped up in a golden blanket, a trident embroidered in sea colors.
Oh.
This...
You didn't! I thought, leading those words to the gods.

Hazel's POV

I could shadow travel here way faster, if only we wouldn't have a newborn that constantly needed something strapped to us by the gods. It was the most stressful time of my life, and it already had it's moments. I was 14 for heaven's sake.
"Can someone please take her, my arm's cramping so bad already," I whined. "Percy, it's your baby sister."
"What?" Annabeth said, clearly bewildered, staring at the bundle.
"Why is she here and not with her mother then?" Percy exclaimed.
Now or never.
"Can you?" I walked towards the rest of my friends and handed the baby to Frank who was actually the cutest child of Mars of the world as he rocked the baby in his arms. He was not comfortable with her, neither was I, but he held her steadily.
"Look, just sit down all of you."
It was me, Frank, Percy, Annabeth, Piper, Jason and Leo with Calypso. I quessed, because she looked like the girl that I drew for Valdez. Chiron was there, sitting in his wheelchair, listening curiously.
I braced myself to say the story of how we ended up here.
Why would the gods do that to me?
Why did they make us do their dirty work? I accepted my faith of being a pawn nevertheless.
"So... A few days ago, we were just walking through the camp, and Neptune appeared. With a baby in his arms... He told us to take care of her for a while and that he'd be back." I said.
"Liar-" Frank frowned as he looked up from the baby.
"Yeah, he didn't come back, but he sent a letter by Mercur. It said that the mother died due to childbirth and how sorry he was for causing trouble to us and all those lame excuses the gods have at all times. I have the letter somewhere in the bag.... The mother was Victoria Payton, had no family that could care for the baby... So Neptune brought her to camp Jupiter. I guess she's from the Roman side then. But the letter said that he wanted her to grow up in New York. Well, I'm sorry, with you two specifically." I looked at Percy and Annabeth.
Percy was staring at me in disbelief while Annabeth kept her eyes glued on the baby.
"But, how?" She said, not letting her eyes off of her.
One deep breath before I spoke again.
"Her mom was a 26 year old biologist at some marine aquarium, we checked with Reyna."
"What's her name?" Percy stood up.
I could see the rage in his posture.
"She doesn't have one. Yet... We just called her nicknames." Frank spoke up. He got up and handed the tiny baby to Percy who sat down next to Annabeth with her.