Seeking Happiness

Sleeping in cabin three was strange. I could sense Percy everywhere. In an odd way it was comforting, but it made me miss Leo. Last night I balled up in the middle of the main bed, wearing one of Leo's old flannels. I was hoping when I sniffed it, it would smell like him. But he had been dead for quite some time. His shirt still smelled faintly of grease and burnt metal. But it was slightly overpowered by a dingy, damp smell that a shirt could only get from sitting in storage. And for probably the hundredth time.. I cried.

Today I was doing my best to stay in the background. Everyone was celebrating, but I just felt like an intruder on their happiness. As well as Annabeth was reacting to my presence I didn't feel the need to push it. I wandered around the camp, the more I explored the more I realized I spent way too long on that cursed island. I spent some time at the lake, some time at the stables, even spent some time by Leo's monument. But near the end I ended up at Percy's house, where they were getting ready to have a big birthday party.

I slowly opened the door, I didn't want to draw any attention to my arrival. Most of the bottom floor was empty, except for the library, where Annabeth and Lucas were hovering over a book, while Percy sat on the floor with his children. They were adorable, I felt a pang of jealousy but pushed it down. "What are you guys doing? I thought you were having a party?" Percy rolled his eyes, "I told them I didn't need a party, but she insisted." Annabeth threw a highlighter at him, "We're demigods Percy, every time we make it another year alive, it definitely calls for a celebration of some kind." She glanced at me to make sure I didn't take offense to the comment, seeing as the demigod I loved died recently. I nodded in agreement, to let her know I hadn't taken offense.

Percy threw the highlighter back at her, "Anyways, were still having one, it isn't until later tonight. Right now they're just checking the cheat sheet on how they might be able to cure Thalia." I raised an eyebrow, "Cheat sheet?" He laughed, "Yeah, some book Annabeth got as a wedding present. There's lots of things in there, anywhere from testing food for Poisson to ejecting an evil deity from a mortal body." I went and sat down next to the little boy, his green eyes so full of life, just like his fathers, just like the sea they are colored for. He smiled and my heart melted, "Your children are beautiful Percy, truly they are." He gave a very proud grin, "Why thank you, I made them myself." This time Annabeth threw a small paperback book. he laughed, "Well with a little help."

He gave her a mischievous grin, "You can hold him you know, he loves the ladies." He picked Noah up and placed him in my lap. Noah giggled as he pulled on my braid. "I want one" Percy raised an eyebrow. "Did I just say that out loud?" Percy fell over, holding his sides. He laughed so hard, his face turning red, tears just barely visible at the corners of his eyes. "Yes, yes you said that out loud. Oh my gosh Caly, you need to be reintegrated into society. You were alone on that island for maybe one year too many."

My heart skipped a beat, "I'm sorry, did you just give me a nickname?" He stopped laughing, "Uhm, yeah I guess I did. If you don't like it I wont call you that." I smiled, "No, it's okay, it's nice. I've never really had a nickname before."

Right as Noah started to get cozy, I smelled something... something awful. Percy jerked his head away, "Annabeth honey it's your turn." She sighed, "I guess you're right, here calypso hand him to me." I must have had a puzzled look on my face because she smiled, "You do know where that smell is coming from right? Noah just pooped." My eyes widened , "There is no way all of that is coming from this little guy." I handed Noah to her, "Well believe it sister. Not wanting one anymore are you?"

She left the room to change his diaper, but Luke remained hunched over the leather book. He was mumbling to himself, but the only thing I could hear was, "Plan B is looking more likely."

Notes