Aftermath-Percabeth

Chapter Nine

Percy sighed as he hung up the phone. He'd gotten a job, but not one he wanted.

He would start work as an office employee selling staples on Monday.

"Percy?" Annabeth called as the door opened. Percy groaned, fearing the conversation ahead of them. "I'm home."

She set down her keys and bag on their counter and headed to the living room, where Percy sat, his face in his hands.

Annabeth quickly noticed and sat next to him. "Are you okay?"

"I got a job," Percy replied dryly.

"This is great news!" Annabeth said with a smile. "You should be celebrating!"

He shook his head. "It's as an office employee. I need to sell staples."

Percy never imagined himself as anything but a Marine Researcher. It was his dream job. He wanted to help animals, especially sea animals, by researching how to better help them and to fight against their entrapment in huge corporations like Sea World.

"Well...you have to start somewhere, right?" Annabeth asked wearily. "I mean, we could always borrow-"

She was interrupted by the sudden ring of Percy's phone. Percy pulled his phone out of his pocket to reveal that Grover was calling him. He peered at Annabeth.

"Answer it," she said. Percy did, and placed the phone on speaker.

"Oh gods, Percy," Grover said. "I'm-I'm a dad."

"Juniper gave birth?!" Annabeth asked. "Sorry, I'm here, too."

"No, that's great! I was just about to call you, too," Grover said. "He's a little satyr."

"Congratulations, G-Man," Percy said with a grin. "When can we come visit?"

"Now, if that's okay," Grover said. "We want him to meet his godparents."

Annabeth smiled. "We're godparents?"

"Of course! Who else would be?"

"We'll be right there, Grover," Annabeth decided. "I don't know if we can stay for long, but we wouldn't miss meeting him for the world."

"I'll tell Juniper," Grover replied. "She'll be ecstatic!"

Then he hung up the phone.

Percy and Annabeth quickly gathered their things before getting into a taxi to camp.

After a few minutes of silent cab driving, Percy spoke. "What were you saying before Grover left?"

"Oh, it doesn't matter," Annabeth replied. "I'll tell you later. Right now we should focus on Grover and Juniper."

Percy frowned. "No, tell me."

Annabeth sighed. "Okay. I just said we could borrow some money."

Percy swallowed. "Oh." He exhaled.

"We don't have to, I'm just saying-"

"Saying what?" Percy asked, growing upset. He noticed Annabeth's face go rigid. "I'm sorry."

"Uh...are you feeling alright?" Annabeth asked, clearly disheveled by Percy's sudden outburst. Percy never got angry at her.

After the nine years of them dating they only had petty arguments about where they would eat or something silly like that. They, and everyone else around them, considered they were the perfect couple.

Percy nodded and brushed off her concerns. "I'm feeling fine."

"Percy, you can tell me-"

"I said I was fine," Percy said through barred teeth. He sighed and rubbed his temple.