#zoe jackson

[not-someone-you-adore]

*25 years later*

*Zoe and Violet Jackson bickering on who the favorite daughter is*

Meanwhile Ethan Jackson: Oh golly, the road's getting bumpy 'cause I got me some friends(read: sisters) who just can't get along. Oh dear, when the team's...

[whenthemarshmallowmettheslayer]

One of Zoe Jackson's few memories of her divine father is when she is 4 years old and he picks her up from her grandmother's house to take her to the ocean. (Sally Jackson hated everything related to the ocean and the color blue after the loss of her son, the only blue thing in the Blofis house is Zoe's children's stuffed toy. The only thing with a nautical theme is an old but perfectly preserved Percy Jackson baby blanket). Mars stood next to her and looked into the distance while Zoe sat on the wet sand and built a castle. His shadow fell on her, protecting and hiding her from the world, she felt cozy, warm and protected, it had not been like this for a long time. Since her Papa just didn't come home.

"You know what your middle name means, Gemma?" he squats down next to her, and his hand gently strokes her hair, Zoey immediately forgets about her sand castle and looks up at him. Mars's face twitched. (Some just refused to look at her, Zoe was a tiny girlish clone of her father from black soft curls to sea-green eyes).

"Tell me?" she bent down and grabbed his leg like a kitten looking for attention, Papa always bent down and picked her up, Mars did not do that. He pressed his nose to the top of her head for a moment and took a deep breath of the scent of her hair. (Sally Jackson intentionally used soap products exclusively with herbal scents for her granddaughter. Never flowers or berries, but the scent of Percy Jackson clung to her like the last gentle touch of his hand on his daughter).

"Beatrix. It means blessing and bringing happiness." Mars spoke slowly and patiently, as if there was a huge meaning in these few words.

Zoe tilted her head to the side: "This... so many. Who called me that?"

Mars put his hands on her back, a tiny gesture of affection: "Perseus. He called you that - Life and blessed happiness."

This is from my old recordings! The ones I wrote when I first started reading "What happens after?"

First off, please know I really enjoyed this. Second, please know I will be haunted by the idea of Sally hating the color blue after her son died.

[goobysnack]

90s pics of 40 years Samuel L. Jackson, the one of my fav actor of all time ;;

[heroes-of-olympus-next-gen]

Day 3: Christmas cookies

Annabeth entered her house after a long day at the office. She had the illusion that people would ease up for the holidays, but the opposite was happening. Anxious and worried about Christmas, they wanted their houses on unreasonable timelines. Making her life a living hell.

At least her house smelled like heaven. She started walking towards the kitchen where she was sure was the source of the glorious smell. “What’s that smell? Are you making cookies?” She asked as she saw her two toddlers covered in cookie dough and her mother-in-law taking a batch of cookies from the oven.

“It was Percy’s idea. He is upstairs with Theo.” Sally said. “How are you?”

“I’m good. How are you my loves?” She turned her attention to her toddlers who seemed over the moon with their afternoon activity. She walked closer to them paying attention to what they are doing.

“We’re making cookies for Santa.” Zoe replied covered with flour. She was putting all of her energy like making cookies was the most important thing in the world. Well, If you considered how much her dad and grandma loved baking it wasn’t really a surprise.

“Do you want to try some?” Charlie gave her a plate that was next to him.

“Thank you.” She said as she tried one of them. Sally’s Christmas cookies were always heavenly and one of her favourite family traditions. “They are amazing. Good job guys. Do you want me to do anything?”

“Nope.” Zoe added as she focused on the dough in front of her. “You can sit here.” She motioned to the chair next to the kitchen island.

At the same time, Percy came downstairs, holding Theo in his arms. “Hey love. Did you see the cookies?” He quickly kissed her as Theo started reaching out to her. Annabeth took him from her husband’s arms and cuddled him.

“Daddy, you aren’t helping.” Zoe said while Charlie nodded in agreement.

“I’m coming.” Percy put more ingredients to the blender to make more dough. As always her family was going overboard with baked goods. Not that she was complaining as she loved eating them.

“The oven is ready for the next batch.” Sally said as she placed the previous cookies to one of the disks.

Percy reached to get one warm cookie only to hear Zoe’s gasp. “Those cookies were for Santa!” She panicked.

“My darling, the cookies will go stale if we leave them on the plate. Santa won’t come for another week.” Percy tried to calm her down.

“But-but what if we don’t have any cookies left.”

“We’re going to put some aside especially for Santa. Don’t worry.” Annabeth comforted her daughter.

“Okay then.”

At the end of their baking session, they were left with nearly 150 cookies. They had definitely gone overboard. Zoe and Charlie fell asleep on the couch which meant Annabeth and Percy had the kitchen all to themselves.

“I’m going to take some cookies to work. To lift the moods and everything.” Annabeth said as she put twenty cookies to a tin box. “Who’s going to eat all of them?”

“Zoe wants to give cookies to Bianca and to the rest of her preschool. I have already eaten 5.”

“I ate 6.”

Percy looked at her sideways. “How did you eat more than me? I’m impressed. The student has surpassed the master.”

“I was the student?” Annabeth raised her eyebrow.

“And I was the master.”

“Nope, that’s not right. Sally is the master.”

“I see what you did there.”

“Where did you put Santa’s cookies?”

“In the jar on the counter.”

“Speaking of Santa, we have to buy the rest of the gifts.” Annabeth said.

“What do we have left?”

“The lightsabres which will ruin my lamps. The mat for Theo and the doll Zoe wants.”

“We can go tomorrow. I can pick you up after work and then we can go out and eat dinner. My mum can look after the kids.”

“Are you sure? I think we call her way too often.”

“She made it crystal clear that she wants more time with her grandkids. Besides, Zoe and Charlie will be with Colin and Bianca until 6. We don’t have to stay out late. We can go to the Italian Place we wanted to try.”

“Alright. I love you. You know it, right?”

“I’m aware. I love you too, love.”

[heroes-of-olympus-next-gen]

Boy troubles part 5

How Percy found out about Charlie and Bianca

Percy was proud of himself. Although he had 3 teenagers inside his house, he hadn’t caught any of them kissing or being too close with their boyfriend or girlfriend which would embarrass them. After Zoe and Charlie entered the phase in which everything their parents do is lame and annoying, Percy felt a bit self-conscious like he had to prove himself to a bunch of 12-year-olds. But like, nobody had ever prepared him to deal with teenagers. How was he supposed to talk to a teenager who liked to believe that he was wrong about everything? Even at his school, he was used to dealing with younger children until recently. Having twins going through puberty really helps you deal with the daily drama of the beautiful paradise straight from hell called Hell.

After tiptoeing around them for a few years he started relaxing again. Zoe was very open about who she was dating; guy or girl and she brought whoever she was with at her at home without telling anything to anyone. Charlie from the other hand was a puzzle. Percy had no idea if or who Charlie was with. Zoe would occasionally mention a name of the girl Charlie was with, but Percy lost count from a point onwards. It also didn’t help that Charlie wouldn’t talk at all if anyone dared to bring up his love life and Percy preferred rather than push him to just not address the matter at all. It wasn’t like it was his business. If Charlie was healthy and happy, he didn’t care what he was doing.

A month ago, Charlie had come to him for some advice, but after that Charlie was on radio silence again which to Percy’s mind meant that things hadn’t gone well for Charlie and his ‘mystery girl’. And once again Percy didn’t say a word about it.

He was proud of his perfect streak of being at the right place and the right time and not embarrassing his children unless he had to. Well, he enjoyed embarrassing them every once in a while, like being the parent who cheers the loudest in the stands for their kid. But like he had appreciated that Sally didn’t mention his sleepovers with Annabeth or the fact that they kept his door closed, he wanted to be the same way with his children.

It was 5 pm and he was in the kitchen preparing dinner for later. The house was mostly quiet except from Lana’s music blasting from her room. Zoe entered the kitchen through the back door after her track practise. “Hey, dad.” She greeted him as she took a banana from the counter and headed upstairs without uttering another word.

For the past few days she had been acting a bit strange and kept a distance from Charlie. When Annabeth tried to address the matter she admitted that nothing was going on, so they stopped asking as there was no point in pressuring her. After he let the food on the stove, Percy decided to take some of the folded and ironed laundry upstairs.

Theo was mostly unbothered by his presence as he was working on some equations that even looking at them fried Percy’s mind. Lana couldn’t even listen to him because of the loud music and Zoe took her stuff and resumed her homework.

He knocked Charlie’s door, but he didn’t get answer. He decided to just open the door. He was just studying with Bianca, so he wouldn’t really be interrupting anything. He opened the door, and before he could even process what was happening in front of him he gasped loudly, catching Charlie’s and Bianca’s attention. Who were making out on Charlie’s bed. “Dad! Knock the door.” Charlie said as he saw him in a frozen state by his doorframe.

“I knocked the door. I-“ his brain short wired and didn’t know how to react. He let the basket on the floor. “I should go.” He said and closed the door behind him.

Percy went back to the kitchen, and he winced as he realised that he gasped. He gasped. Like he could have reacted any other way, but he decided to gasp. “What happened? Why did you gasp?” Theo asked him from the banister.

“Nothing to worry about it.” Percy replied.

“It didn’t sound like it. Are you going to Target?” Theo questioned him.

“What do you need?”

“Whiteboard markers and M&Ms.”

“I have markers in the office.”

“I used all of them.”

“Then, I’ll go to Target.” Percy said and grabbed his car keys. As he entered the car, he texted the family group if anyone needed anything from Target. Half an hour later, he came back to the house and to his surprise Charlie was sitting on the kitchen island. He looked at him but didn’t say a word.

“Look. I know I shouldn’t have gasped.”

“You shouldn’t have.” Charlie replied.

“I’ll knock twice from now on.” Percy promised him, as he looked bothered by the fact that he was interrupted.

“Thank you.”

“So, are you dating?” He asked mostly out of curiosity.

“Yes, for a week now.” Charlie admitted. “I didn’t want to say anything because you would make a big deal out of it.”

“I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it.” Percy bragged as he sat across him. He caught himself staring at Charlie’s neck where a dark purple mark was there. A hickey.

“What? Why you stopped talking?” Charlie asked him, as Percy once again lost his colour. “Come on, dad. It’s just a hickey. It’s not the first time I’ve come with a hickey.”

“No, I’m totally cool. Like a river. Like the ocean. No problem. Everything is alright.” Percy reassured himself. He didn’t even know why he was so bothered. He liked Bianca a lot and Charlie had liked her for a long time. But he was frozen like his brain couldn’t function with the new information.

Charlie put his plate in the sink and turned to him. “I am going to go upstairs. When you stop freaking out over a hickey, you’ll know where to find me.” He pressed him on the shoulder and headed upstairs.

Zoe was sitting in the living room and Percy decided to join her. “How are you feeling about the whole Charlie-Bianca situation?”

“I’m fine. But if he dares to hurt her, I’ll have to hide a body.” Zoe mentioned.

[heroes-of-olympus-next-gen]

Prompt 21: “Look! Fireflies!”

Percabeth family is my favourite

Since her first days at Camp Half-Blood, Annabeth had a tendency to go to places she wasn’t supposed to. She knew very well that those specific places were out of bounds, but she had decided to ignore it and do as she pleased. Her invisibility hat came very handy on those very frequent occasions.

When Percy came to Camp she encouraged him to come with her, but he didn’t want to break any rules. But she managed to convince him to join her a handful of times. After they got married and had Zoe and Charlie, although they visited the Camp, they never spent the night there.

“It’s getting pretty late if you want to go,” Percy told her as Zoe was sleeping on his shoulder and Charlie on hers.

“I have an idea. And then we can go.” Annabeth said.

“Is it the kind of idea that can get us banned from here?”

She hesitated to answer. “Maybe. But Chiron loves us. He won’t ban us. Come on. Live a little. It’s going to be fun.”

“Fine. But we have two sleeping toddlers.”

“They’ll wake up.” Annabeth started walking into the woods. “You’re going to love it.”

She started making turns into the woods that were so familiar to her. She remembered the countless times she had gone there, most of which she was mad or upset with something or in need to get away from everyone. She passed some trees of the Nymphs and continued straight ahead with Percy following her. Charlie started waking up and got a little confused as he didn’t recognise the place he was at. “It’s okay, baby. Wait a bit, I have a surprise.” Charlie nodded in agreement and was staring at the trees.

5 minutes later, she reached the best part of the woods. “Look! Fireflies!” she said as hundreds of fireflies appeared in front of them, covering flowers and trees in a magical almost way.

At that point, Zoe was awake as well, staring at what was happening in front of her.

“You were right. It’s impressive.” Percy whispered to her. “Why haven’t you brought me here before?”

“It was my space for alone time. This place was my first discovery when I was 7. I never brought anyone here. But I thought it would be a great place to create memories with our tiny humans.” She explained.

“You’re a great mum.” He said and kissed her.

[heroes-of-olympus-next-gen]

Day 5: Gingerbread house

The one thing that Annabeth takes seriously more than anything else is making gingerbread houses. It was the one thing she did every Christmas even when she was a child, later in Camp with her siblings and definitely when she grew older. Being an architect on the top of the field was a bonus when it came to making realistic gingerbread houses. It was the only tradition that she held onto. After Charlie and Zoe were born she started making them their own Gingerbread houses and she gave them frosting to decorate them.

But her yearly activity turned to a family tradition when it turned out that Zoe, Charlie and Theo had inherited Annabeth’s ability to make gingerbread houses. Zoe especially was putting her on a run for her money. Which could only mean one thing; family Gingerbread competition that Lana and Percy would decide which one was the best.

“Don’t you think gingerbread houses with gingerbread men in them are kinda morbid? I mean, it’s a house made out of flesh.” Charlie said after he watched Zoe put Gingerbread men outside her house.

“They’ll be fine. It isn’t that morbid.” Zoe said and took a better look at her house. “Is it morbid, Teddy?” She asked her younger brother who had been awfully quiet for the past hour, busy putting together his masterpiece.

“The whole thing is a bit morbid if you think about it. Globalisation and us commercialising the holidays.” Theo replied.

“Boo, you’re ruining the Christmas spirit.” Zoe claimed as the kitchen door opened.

“Hey! You aren’t supposed to be here!” Theo said as Bianca entered.

“Hi bestie.”

“I am not a judge. I came for moral support.” She explained as she left four coffees on a chair. “I even brought you all coffee.”

“Thanks, Bee.” Charlie said trying not to get distracted by his girlfriend. Theo noticed that which only made him reply, “Actually, you can stay. For as long as you want.”

“I’ll go sit with Lana and Jasmine.” Bianca said before she went to the living room.

Zoe stopped decorating as she took her coffee from the chair. “How is the house going, mum?”

“I think it might be my best yet.” Annabeth replied as Zoe handed her the coffee.

“I’ll only believe you when I see it.”

“How much time do we have left?” Charlie asked as he was getting distracted.

“One hour.” Percy shouted from the other room.

An hour later, the four of them were done. They hadn’t seen the finished results as they were all focused on their own designs. The winner was going to get to pick the movie they would watch on Christmas and get the huge box that nobody knew what it contained except from Percy, Lana and Bianca.

“Can we come inside?” Lana asked, annoyed that she couldn’t come in the kitchen for four hours.

“Yes, love.” Annabeth replied as her twelve-year-old daughter marched inside.

“Who’s presenting the houses?” Percy asked. Theo, Zoe, and Charlie turned to Bianca.

“So, that’s why I’m here.” Bianca said in a knowing tone. “I thought we were going shopping.”

“We are. After you present the houses and mum gets crowned winner for the hundredth time.” Zoe replied.

“Okay, then.”

Theo had gone with a futuristic design and Charlie with a New York townhouse. Both very impressive, but they couldn’t reach Zoe’s or Annabeth’s designs. Zoe had baked a Victorian mansion with crazy details. And Annabeth? She had made a gingerbread version of their home. Down to the last doorknob, everything was identical to their own.

“I think it’s a draw.” Lana said after she had talked about it with Percy. “Between mum and Zoe.”

“I think Zoe should win.” Annabeth rebutted.

“What?”

“Really?”

“Mum, no. It’s fine. My feelings won’t get hurt if I don’t win. I know that I’m always a year closer to winning.” Zoe said smiling. Annabeth knew she meant it. She was the biggest fighter out of her kids. The most resilient and goal driven.

“I know your feelings won’t get hurt. But if you want to lose so you can beat me fair and square with a big gap between the two houses, I’m on your side.” Annabeth replied.

“I just want to see what’s in the big box.” Zoe whispered.

“You can open it instead of me.”

“I won’t take away your joy.”

“Speaking of joy. Does anyone else want to get a hammer and eat my house.” Theo suggested.

“Everyone knows you’re not actually supposed to eat the gingerbread house. Those things are stale as hell.” Charlie replied.

“I am getting the hammer.”

“Not until Christmas you aren’t.”  Percy declared.

“Anyway. Some of us have to get their Christmas shopping done.” Zoe said as she motioned Bianca and Charlie to stand up.

“Do you have money?” Annabeth asked.

“Yes, the video games pay well.” Charlie replied. For the past three months, he had been coding for a company and had even pitched them a video game idea, which gave him some money to have except from his allowance.

“What are you getting for Bianca?” Lana asked.

“That’s a secret.” Charlie replied. “Who is driving?”

“I am.” Bianca took out her car keys. “Bye!”

“Drive safely!” Percy told them as the door closed.

“I am going upstairs.” Lana told them.

“Okay, darling.”

A few seconds the kitchen got too quiet. “I never thought you would let Zoe win.” Percy stated.

“She’s going to outsmart me. Any day now. And I’m proud of that. Because we made it happen. I mean she got in Early Decision for MIT. They rejected me both early and regular decision. I am preparing myself. But I can’t not be overly excited about her. She’s my baby.”

“Can you believe it that this time next year, Zoe and Charlie will be coming home from college?”

“I can’t. It feels like yesterday when we were in the old apartment, celebrating their first Christmas.”

[heroes-of-olympus-next-gen]

Happy birthday!

Your annual Percy Jackson birthday post <3

Check Last year's on Ao3

Percy hadn’t imagined that he would spend his 38th birthday that way. To be honest, he didn’t really believe that he would get to celebrate his 18th birthday. But two decades later, he was in his and Annabeth’s house which was packed with their friends and family. It was loud. Like really loud. But who was he to complain? He was the first one to invite as many people as he could to celebrate even the less important happenings. And his youngest daughter’s fifth birthday definitely is important for him. So when Lana asked them for a pirate princess party, he couldn’t refuse her. He had vowed that his kids would always have the best birthday parties. Give them everything he didn’t have growing up. It also worked in their favour the fact that most of their friends had kids around the same age. So they decided to throw a huge party for both Percy and Lana. Around 3 pm, the pirate princesses started passing out from the sugar rush. A few girls from Lana’s class had left as the party ‘officially’ ended at 3 even if they were more than welcome to stay. Their friends would stay until late as the invite contained an evening BBQ. Percy was sitting on the outdoor couch observing his surroundings. He must have looked lonely as Connor and Travis sat on Percy’s two sides. “So the big 38. How do you feel grandpa?” Travis asked him and patted his shoulder. “We’re the same age, Travis,” Percy remarked. “You tell me how 38 feels.” “Are we really? ‘Cuz I don’t feel a day over 25.” “Because you act like a 25-year-old,” Katie said as she passed beside them. “Love you too, hon,” Travis said to his wife and turned back to his friend and his brother. “Honestly, I can’t believe that I’ve been married to her for 15 years.” “I can. I still mourn on your wedding anniversary.” Connor replied which caused Percy to grin. “What happened, Connor? Is the husband ignoring you?” Percy asked and took a swig from his beer. “He isn’t ignoring me.” Connor sank in his seat. “He is looking after Eliot in the pool. When your wife isn’t keeping him away from me.” Connor turned to the pool, where Malcolm was eye-hawking their 7-year-old son, Eliot, playing with Theo and Ryder. “Man, Malcolm is her brother. And you’re very possessive.” Travis jumped in. “And you complain about Katie and me.” “Because your wife hates me,” Connor argues, but Percy knows that the whole conversation is a joke. “I’m sure she will kill me if she gets the chance.” “You’re causing me a headache,” Percy complained. “Which would be okay on a regular day. But it’s my birthday. Which I take very seriously.” “Alright. I’ll change the subject.” Travis said and sat better. “What do you want as a birthday gift?” Percy thought about it for less than a second. “I have everything I want. I don’t need anything else. I have Annabeth and our kids. We’re all happy, so I don’t care about gifts and stuff.” “You almost made me cry,” Connor said passively. “That’s the most stereotypical answer I’ve ever heard. And I was there when Travis was saying his wedding vows.” “You’re stuck on my wedding day aren’t you?” “Always, darling.” Then Malcolm motioned Connor to come to him. “Gentlemen, duty calls.” He said trying to keep his cool. But then he sprinted to his husband’s side. Travis drank the rest of his beer. “I’ll go for another one after I check on my boys. I haven’t heard any explosions in a while.” “Katie is probably keeping them under control.” Percy guessed as she was the only person that 10-year-old Nate and 9-year-old Jesse were scared of. Kinney, Travis and Katie’s 5-year-old daughter was the calmest of their kids, which said a lot as she managed to prank her dad and uncle, the experts in deception. “I’d rather see myself what they’re up to.” Travis got up but before he was out of his earshot he heard him greet someone ‘Professor.’ Nico was next to sit next to him after giving him a nod. Percy noticed that he was holding a small box. He handed it to Percy. “Birthday present.”

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