Judgmental (a Percy Jackson AU)

Blueprint For My Life

      Annabeth Chase had not planned for this. She had not planned to be working night shifts, but it was the only way she could give her daughter the love she deserved while still keeping a roof above their heads. If Luke has been there, then perhaps Annabeth would be sleeping beside him in bed right now instead of studying a blueprint. Annabeth liked her job, but she also liked sleep and she got very little of it nowadays.

      The phone rung and Annabeth picked it up.

      "Athens Architectural Firm," she said. "This is Annabeth Chase speaking. How can I help you?"

     "Annabeth!" the person said. "I haven't heard from you in awhile. I'm Katie from high school."

     "How are you doing Katie?" Annabeth asked, thinking of the days when her biggest worry was making good grades; those days had not been simple, but she still missed them.

     "I'm doing great," Katie said enthusiastically. "I studied Botany in college and I'm moving in with my boyfriend, Travis."

     "That's great!" Annabeth said.

      She was happy for Katie, but she felt a twinge of jealousy. Why couldn't her life be like Katie's? Why had Annabeth let her blueprint for the perfect life misguide her?

     "How are you?" Katie asked.

      "I have a job I love," Annabeth said, deciding to make her life seem as positive as possible, "and a daughter I adore."

     "Awww," Katie cooed. "What is she like?"

     Annabeth smiles as she said, "Atalanta is a spunky four year-old. I'll be glad when I can enroll her in kindergarten."

    Katie laughed and said, "I'm glad you are doing well."

    "Same with you," Annabeth said. "So, what were you calling about?"

    "Miranda and I got the grant money to build a butterfly sanctuary," Katie said. "We were wondering if you guys could help design and construct it. We'd need it done by the end of the year."

     "How big is it supposed to be?" Annabeth asked.

     "Thirty thousand square feet," Katie said. "The sanctuary needs to have good insulation to keep the butterflies alive in the winter, but it also needs to be hospitable for them. It can't look too sterile; we want it to mimic their natural habitat."

    "Alright," Annabeth said. "I can work on a blueprint and fax it to you by the end of the week."

     "Thanks Annabeth," Katie said. "You're the best."

     "I know," Annabeth said with a chuckle. "Good night, Katie."

     Katie hung up and Annabeth took out a new sheet of construction paper. While she started sketching the blueprint and working out the length of width of support beams and walls, Annabeth thought about how tonight should have been her fifth anniversary with Luke. Instead, he had landed himself in prison after getting involved with a gang called the Titans.

      Luke said he would shape up, but Annabeth wasn't sure about that and while he was imprisoned, they had gotten a divorce. Annabeth still missed him, but she wasn't sure if he was the right father to her daughter — even if he was the one who had helped create her. For now, Atalanta had one parent, but Annabeth hoped she would get a father — either when Luke got out of jail and shaped up or when Annabeth met someone new.