“Are you insane? I wouldn't be talking to you if I had.”
“Thank God.” Percy let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. If Minerva doesn't know yet, they're safe for now. “Are you... are you absolutely sure that you're pregnant?”
“I took the one test and it said positive. I know false positives happen, so I'm going to look up doctors and make an appointment. I'll let you know when I find one, okay? For now, I want this to stay between us.”
Percy nodded before remembering Annabeth wouldn't be able to see him. He was just opening his mouth to reply when Sally called out from the living room, “Percy, is everything okay?”
“Do not tell her yet!” Annabeth hissed.
Lying to his mom is one thing he had never been able to do. He doesn't think he's ever lied to her a day in his life. Aside from Annabeth, Sally is the most important woman in his life (Estelle is right up there with her.).
“I can't lie to my mom, Annabeth. You know that.”
“I know. I promise you won't have to for long. I'm looking up doctors as we speak, and after I go, if I really am... Sally will be the first to know. Sound good?”
Percy nodded, “Yeah... Okay. Sounds good. Let me know when you find one, okay?”
“Of course.” There was a pause as Annabeth took a deep breath. “We're going to be okay, right?”
Five years. They have been together for five years, and he can't name a single time that he has ever heard Annabeth sound so scared. So worried. Annabeth Chase should never sound like that. Did she really think they wouldn't be able to get through this? They're young. They're only seventeen, and they can barely raise themselves, let alone a baby. But, they're Percy and Annabeth. If anyone can make it work, it's them.
“We'll be perfect, Annabeth. Nothing could ever come between us.”
She let out a breath. “You're right. I'm just... I'm just going to go nap. I'll keep you updated for when the appointment is. Enjoy the movie with your mom.”
“I'm still going to worry.”
“Don't. I'll be fine. We will be fine. We'll figure everything out as we go like we always do. I love you.”
Percy took a deep breath. “You always know what's best. Get some rest. I love you.”
Pregnant.
A part of him wishes this is some sort of joke that Annabeth is playing on him. Sure, they love to prank each other every now and then, but she wouldn't pull a joke like this. A big part of him is scared. Scared that it's real and he and Annabeth are going to be parents. He's scared that being so young and throwing a baby into the mix will do nothing but tear them apart.
He should have some more faith than that.
“Percy?” Sally walked into the kitchen, eyeing her son. “Are you okay?”
He cleared his throat, "Yeah, um... I just got off the phone with Annabeth. She said she's feeling a little worse and is looking into going to the doctors."
Technically, it's not a lie. Annabeth is feeling worse and she is looking for a doctor. Sally doesn't need to know the little pregnancy fact just yet.
“Oh, sweetie.” she moved over to him, wrapping an arm around him. “She'll be fine, baby. It's probably just the flu.”
Percy leaned into his moms' hug. He's seventeen. Even a seventeen-year-old boy needs some cuddling from their mother every once in a while. "Yeah. The flu.." he pulled away, reaching for the glass he had set on the counter, "So, movie? I could really use some Finding Nemo."
Thirty minutes into the movie, Percy got a text from Annabeth saying she scheduled a doctors appointment for two days later. If Sally noticed how zoned out he was the rest of the movie, she never said anything.
XXXXX
Two days later, Percy and Annabeth were sat in his car. They had skipped school to go to the appointment, and now that the visit is over and they have a definite answer...
“Pregnant.” Annabeth was leaned over in the passenger seat, her face buried in her hands. “I was really hoping it was a false test. Sally is never going to trust us again. Gods, my mom is going to kill us. She's going to kill you, and I'm never going to be allowed to leave my house again.”
“Breathe.”
Annabeth lifted her head, shooting a glare towards her boyfriend.
He knows he's not being the most helpful, but he's not sure what to say to make her feel better. He's not the one whose body will be changing, and he definitely isn't the one with a psycho mother. Percy is a lot more worried about Annabeth than he is himself.
“Don't look at me like that.” he reached over, letting his hand rest against her back. “My mom won't lose her trust for us. She'll maybe be disappointed, but she will still trust us. You know that.”
Annabeth dropped her face back into her hands, mumbling an “I know”. She took a deep breath, “When do you want to tell her?”
“Soon?”
“We're already skipping school. Might as well tell her now?”
Percy nodded, starting his car and backing out of his parking spot. Are they really about to tell his mom that Annabeth is pregnant? It seems so unreal. It's... crazy. Nerve-wracking. Sally Jackson-Blofis is the best person he knows. Even if she doesn't support something, she'll still be there for you. Sally is and always has been Percy and Annabeth's biggest supporter. She shouldn't react too badly.
He sure hopes she doesn't react too badly.
“What are you so in thought about?”
“How mom will react.”
“Oh.” Annabeth bit her lip, staring down at her hands resting in her lap. “How do you think she'll react?”
“I'm not sure.”
“Reassuring.”
Perch shrugged. He doesn't want to lie to Annabeth. He's not positive how Sally's reaction will be.
The drive to his house is only fifteen minutes from the doctors, and it was silent. Percy has a lot going through his head, and he knows Annabeth does, too. Gods, he hopes their relationship doesn't change. Is that a bad thing to be focused on? He hasn't kissed her in three days! He misses her. She's right next to him, but he misses her. How stupid is that? Percy gets it, though. He understands that she doesn't want to be touched right now. He's not even mad about it.
Annabeth's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “How should we tell her?”
“What?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “How should we tell her? Should we kiss up to her first or just spill it?”
Percy thought it over. They could just suck up to her first, but then she'll just be suspicious that they're hiding something. That would lead to her getting mad that they didn't tell her right away. But, if they don't suck up to her... he can't imagine how she would act. He knows for sure she wouldn't be too mad at them. She would be upset maybe that they hid for a few days before telling her, but she wouldn't be mad. Then again, though. If they do suck up to her...
“Could we make blue cookies?”
“She does love your cookies.”
“But could I-”
“Percy, no.”
Percy sighed and Annabeth let out a laugh. He relaxed at the sound. They'll be fine. Sally will have a good reaction, and as usual, good advice for them. Hopefully.
“I love you, you know that right?”
“I love you, too, Percy.”
Percy pulled into his regular spot, turning in his seat to face his girlfriend. He doesn't care what happens, as long as he's with her. Together. They can get through anything.
Annabeth leaned over, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “I'm ready when you are.”
“Never?”
The couple climbed out of the car, walking into his apartment hand-in-hand. Sally could react one of two ways, and he's hoping for a good one. No matter what, he has Annabeth.
“You lied to me.”
“What? How?”
"You said you wouldn't miss any more school, yet here we are. Missing school."
Percy snorted, shaking his head. “I have a feeling we will be missing more school.”
Annabeth tugged at his hand, pulling him to a stop. He turned, raising an eyebrow at her. Letting go of his hand, she stepped forward, gripping his shirt and pulling him towards her and pressed her lips to his. Her fingers brushed against his jaw, “No matter what happens, we'll make it work. I promise.”
Her pressed another quick kiss to her lips, “As long as we're together.”
Sally is standing in the kitchen when they walk through the door. She glanced around the corner when she heard the door open, a frown on her face. “Percy? Annabeth? Why aren't you two in school?”
Percy glanced at Annabeth. “We didn't exactly go to school today?”
Annabeth refused to make eye contact with her as she eyed them. Percy's hand gripped hers a little tighter. Good, she thought to herself. He's just as nervous.
Sally crossed her arms, “And where were you two?”
“The doctor?”
“Is that a question?”
“No. That's where we were.”
Annabeth was starting to feel nauseous, and not because of the morning sickness. Sally isn't happy, and she's suspicious. They're in so much trouble.
Sally's eyes moved to Annabeth. “You're still sick? Are you feeling any better? What did they say you have?”
This is the kind of mothering Annabeth has been missing out on. Her mother never cared enough to question her on how she's feeling. Ever. Sally is the mom she never had, and that's why breaking her trust is so important to Annabeth.
Annabeth dropped Percy's hand, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "Um, no... I'm not still sick... I just..." she waved a hand between her and Percy. "We..."
“She's pregnant, mom.”
Annabeth had never felt so grateful for Percy. Sally's jaw dropped as she looked between the couple. She brought her hands up, covering her mouth as she moved towards the couch. Percy glanced nervously at Annabeth.
“Mom?”
“Annabeth, you're pregnant?” Annabeth nodded slowly, “and... you're sure?”
Percy and Annabeth moved to the other couch, sitting and keeping some distance between them. Annabeth nodded again, “That's why we went to the doctor. To confirm it. It's just become more... real.”
Sally stared at them. The shock was written all over her face. Percy could usually read her. His mom is an open book. But now? Right now he couldn't. Is she mad? Disappointed?
“You're both seventeen. You can't have a kid.” Sally shook her head, “You're still kids yourselves.”
“That's what I said.” Annabeth said, “but... after the doctor confirmed it, I felt... I don't know. Excited? Happy? A mix of both.”
“You're excited?” Percy asked, a smile on his face.
Annabeth turned in the seat to face him, “Of course I am. It's you and we've always talked about having a family together one day. It's just happening sooner instead of later.”
“I'm excited, too, Wise Girl.”
The two had forgotten that Sally was in the room. They got so caught up in each other and their confessions that they blocked her out.
“Are you going to keep it?”
Percy and Annabeth exchanged looks. Annabeth gave him a smile and Percy looked back towards his mom, "Yeah... Yeah, we are."
Sally took a deep breath. “I'm a little disappointed in you both. I thought I had taught you both better than that, but even I know accidents happen.” she paused, putting on a smile. “And with that out of the way, I just know you will be good parents. Have you told your mother yet, Annabeth?”
“Oh, uh... no? Not yet. We agreed to tell you first. I already know she's going to freak. “ Annabeth looked to Percy. “I want to tell her without you there. I don't want her to kill you.”
Percy's eyebrows furrowed as he listened to her, "Are you sure? I don't mind being there."
Sally reached over, placing a hand on Percy's knee. “Sweetie, we both know Minerva would kick you right out.” Percy shrugged and Sally looked to Annabeth, “If things go bad, you will always have a place here.”
“Thank you, Sally. That means a lot to me. I know my mom won't be nearly as calm as you.”
Sally stood, walking to the kitchen, “Well, you have to remember that I've been there.” Annabeth followed behind her, “I was eighteen when I had Estelle.”
Estelle Jackson-Blofis is Percy's older sister. She's three years older than Percy, and currently away at her first year of college. Estelle, like Sally, had welcomed Annabeth into the family with open arms.
Annabeth loves this family so much.
“My parents were understanding and didn't chew me out. It's life.” Sally grabbed a mug, filling it with coffee and leaning against the counter. “I know you two are young and scared, but I'll be here for you two every step of the way.”
Annabeth rushed up to Sally, throwing her arms around her. “Thank you so much. Thank you for always treating me like one of your own.”
Sally smiled, wrapping her free arm around the younger girl and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You are one of my own.”
Annabeth could cry.
Percy walked in, smiling at the sight of his two favorite girls. He's always loved how close they are. “So,” he started, walking up to them and resting a hand on Annabeth's lower back, “are you ready to tell your mom?”
Annabeth took a deep breath, stepping away from Sally and leaning more into Percy. “Nope. But, I want to get it over with.”
XXXXX
“You're what?!”
Annabeth flinched back. She's seen her mother angry plenty of times. Every time she brought home a bad grade in elementary school. When she brought home Percy Jackson for the first time. When she started dating Percy.
“I'm pregnant. I know I'm young and he's young, but school -”
Minerva crossed her arms, glaring at her daughter. “And it's that boys, isn't it?”
Annabeth glared back, “That boy has a name. It's Percy, and yes, it is his.”
Minerva shook her head in clear disappointment. Annabeth knew she wouldn't be happy about it, but she wasn't sure just how unhappy. Annabeth had prepared herself for the worst.
“You're just a child, Annabeth.”
“I'm seventeen. I'm looking into colleges, and jobs because I'm an adult. I made a mistake, it happens.”
“You're a Chase.” Minerva rubbed at her temples like this whole thing was giving her a headache. It probably is, to be honest. Annabeth wouldn't be surprised. “Especially not mistakes like this with people like him.”
Annabeth could handle her mom saying mean things to her or about her. But talking about Percy like this is completely different. People like him? People like him?
“People like him? There's nothing wrong with him. He's been nothing but nice to you while you've been nothing but rude towards him! He's a human just like us, and he makes his own mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. He's completely normal.”
“You can't have a baby, Annabeth.”
Just like Minerva Chase to avoid a fight when she says the wrong things.
“The only time you ever tell me what to do is when I do something you hate. You hate Percy, of course you'll say that. If I had dated Luke and this happened you would support it.” Annabeth had a frown on her face, arms crossed protectively across her stomach, “I love Percy. We've been together for five years. He's it for me.”
Minerva rolled her eyes, hands on her hips, “You're far too young to know -”
“Don't tell me that I don't know how I feel about him. I do know. You're my mother, and that is the only reason I even told you.”
“You're so stubborn. Just like your father.” Annabeth looked to the floor. Anytime Minerva brought up her father it was always in situations where Annabeth had done something she hated. “Being a teen parent is hard. I only want what's best for you.”
Annabeth raised an eyebrow, "What's best for me?"
“I'm going to give you two options; get an abortion or leave.”
Abortion or leave? Abortion? Her mother is actually insane. Annabeth couldn't even think about getting an abortion. It made her stomach turn. What kind of person asks that of their child? She's not going to abort it so that leaves her with one option.
“I'll leave.”