Chapter Text
3 years later
“Consideration for horizontal ventilation?” Annabeth asked, reading off the notecard in her hand.
“Anytime vertical isn’t used; leeward then wayward,” Percy answered, sitting across from her, elbows on his knees and his chin resting in his hand. Annabeth had asked him a million times how he functioned better when he sat like that, but he didn’t have an answer.
She was quizzing him for his Lieutenant exam, the written test he had to pass to up the ranks at the fire station. There was a physical evaluation and a simulation where he would lead other firefighters on-scene. He completed his EMT certification a month ago, and he was going to sleep for three days once he passed this test.
He must’ve looked like he was about to pass out because Annabeth set the flashcards on the coffee table in front of her.
“You need a break.”
“I’m fine, let’s keep going. Finish the set, at least.”
“No,” she crossed her arms.
“What do you mean ‘no’?”
“You’ve been at it all afternoon, so you need to do something else before all the information turns to mush in your brain.”
“I grew out of that when I graduated.”
“You’re being dramatic. In high school, you had to know everything for at least six classes. Now it’s just one, and I bet you're still swimming for your EMT test last month. It’s much easier to mix up stuff when the topics go hand in hand.”
“But-”
“No. You should start on supper,” she stood from her chair, and old plush rocker she fell in love with at a thrift store last year. “I need to pick up Jenna from Sally’s.”
Percy groaned. “Why do you get to pick her up?”
“Because you’re a better cook, and I birthed her. I’ll text you when I’m on my way back,” she gathered her purse and keys, stopping by the couch to kiss his forehead. “No studying while I’m gone.”
“Why can’t I come with?”
“Percy, you’re whining. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
He nodded, watching her leave their apartment. It was bigger than the one they shared when he had been in the army, with two bedrooms and a bathroom, a decent kitchen, and living space.
Jenna turned two a week before he passed his EMT course, so they kept her birthday decorations up and had another party for him, inviting their neighbors, friends, and family. He had been prepping for the Lieutenant job almost as long as Jenna had been alive; he could almost taste the satisfaction of becoming one.
Taking ten seconds to clear his head and think about something non-medical or firefighter-related, he got up and checked the fridge, taking stock of what they had.
Annabeth had learned to cook from recipes and YouTube videos, and while she managed, it wasn’t great. Percy did most of the cooking, but it was a good thing she could hold her own. He thinks it’s the only thing he’d always be better than her at. She had mostly learned when he’d been deployed, though that was more because she was living by herself for the first time than anything else. She didn’t have a whole lot of options, after all.
He had learned from his mother, Sally, who was the best cook in existence.
When Sally realized they were finally dating, she almost cried from pure joy. When they got married, she jumped up and down in celebration. When she found out Annabeth was pregnant, she sobbed. When little Jenna was born, she was the first person at the hospital, and the third person to hold her.
Percy loved his girls more than anything in the world.
So he made them spaghetti, Jenna’s current favorite food. He added meatballs he had made and frozen a couple of weeks ago, keeping the sauce separate from the noodles until it was time to serve. Jenna refused to eat it if she didn’t taste the sauce before it was on the noodles, which had been hell to figure out. She wasn’t even talking in full sentences, but she still managed to be the pickiest kid he had ever met.
Halfway through seasoning the sauce, Annabeth texted him.
Annabeth (5:37 p.m.)
Jenna cried when I walked in the door
She loves Sally more than me
Anyway. Leaving now
Percy (5:39 p.m.)
She must love Mom a lot then
It’s very hard to love
anyone more than you
I would know ;)
He knew she would roll her eyes at that one, which is exactly why he said it. Piper had always said something about keeping the ‘romance alive’ between them when Annabeth was pregnant, so he always tried to keep that in mind.
Ten minutes later, the door opened right as he was finished straining the noodles. Annabeth helped Jenna with her shoes and coat before setting all of their outdoor gear in the closet adjacent to the door.
“Perfect timing!” Percy called.
“I knew it would be,” Annabeth said, taking her hair out of a low ponytail and running her fingers through it.
Jenna ran as fast as she could, which was comparable to an old cat taking a stroll, over to Percy, reaching her arms so he would pick her up. He gave her a little toss in the air before resting her on his side, holding her with one arm. He dipped a small spoon into the sauce and fed it to her, and she signed ‘more’ in response. He had made it perfect, then.
He settled her into her high chair while Annabeth prepared Jenna’s plate, placing it on the tray in front of her, the noodles already cut to a small size and the meatballs in fourths. Annabeth went back to the stove to retrieve her plate, sat down, and then it was Percy’s turn.
He always got his food last because it made him feel better to know that his family ate first. His mother did the same thing for him when he was growing up, and he wouldn’t let the thought of eating before his child enter his brain.
Not when he still had his Lieutenant test to take.
Jenna didn’t know many words, but she babbled like there was no tomorrow. Percy asked her questions that Annabeth had probably asked in the car, but Jenna didn’t seem to mind.
“You ready for your test?” Annabeth asked, interrupting their babble.
“Ready enough,” he shrugged, cutting Jenna’s pasta into smaller pieces.
“I'm not letting you look at those cards again for the rest of the night.”
He looked at her. “Why not?”
“Because you’ve been mixing around the information all day. Taking a long break will eliminate that.”
“I have not been mixing anything around,” she gave him a look. “Okay, maybe a couple of things. But I need to be going over this constantly until it sticks.”
“One night off studying won’t change how you do on the test.”
“But what if-”
“Percy,” she took his hand. “You are going to stop studying for one night and spend time with your daughter. And your wife. Who love and miss you very much.”
Jenna started babbling again, and that was that. He was trying his best to balance everything, but even he knew he wasn’t spending enough time with his family. Especially since that’s why he changed jobs in the first place.
So he spent the evening with his girls. Annabeth made a pillow fort while Percy cleaned the sauce off Jenna, and they watched their favorite movies from their youth. Jenna wandered from Annabeth to Percy to Annabeth and back again; which was impressive because Annabeth was sitting right next to Percy.
It was much needed, and long overdue. A wholesome night with his family was exactly what he needed. In the end, his Lieutenant exam wasn’t that important. Not compared to the joy his family gave him. He could climb the ranks anytime, but he couldn’t get back the time he wasted with his family.
So that’s what he did.
He sat and played with his daughter, listening to the movie Annabeth had picked out. It was some rom-com he recognized from Hallmark.
It was silly and fun and exactly what they needed.
Well, Percy only needed Annabeth and Jenna, but that was aside the point.
