Percy

Jason and I have been at navy basic training for about six weeks now. I've never been so tired in my entire life.

We've been running, exercising, learning, and running, almost non-stop. I only do it because, if it helps me get back to my Wise Girl alive, I am going to do it.

Jason has been doing a little better than me; not a lot, but some. He has pushed me harder than I thought I could ever go, and then some.

What has been getting me through are Annabeth's letters. She writes every week. A few times she has even sent two letters during the same week. I always write back to her as soon as I get the letter, no matter how tired I am from the day.

In them she tells me about her new classes, the job she has taken with a local architecture firm, and just the things she has seen, heard or felt during the day. Almost like she is talking directly to my face about how her day was, like I'm not even gone. She always tells me how much she misses me, how much she wishes I could be there in our apartment with her, her letters always leave me blushing.

Piper helped her move into our apartment last week. I can already imagine the small apartment set up perfectly. In a letter Piper wrote to Jason, she told him of how she had been bossed around by Annabeth for two days straight until everything was perfect. I felt sorry for the poor girl, but I still wished that I was the one Annabeth was bossing around, it sure sounds better than my current situation.

Piper writes to Jason regularly, not as often as Annabeth writes to me, but I can tell the letters help Jason as much as mine help me.

This most recent letter, however, is leaving me slightly troubled. Annabeth tells me that she had been feeling ill lately. She can't even think about her favorite foods without getting sick to her stomach.

I tell Jason about this, "Could she be heart sick? Is all of this my fault for leaving?"

He chuckles a little, then he says, "Percy, I have a feeling this is completely your fault, though, not the way you think." He gives me a knowing smile, trying to hide it.

"What do you mean? What do you know Grace?" I start getting defensive. "Are you saying I made her sick by leaving her to help you?"

He puts his hands up in surrender,"Not at all! Piper has just told me what she has noticed, I bet that the next letter Annabeth sends you, everything will be figured out." He gives me another smile, "Don't worry yourself Jackson, I'm sure everything will be fine."

I wave him off and I go back to my stationary and write her back. I tell her how I wish I was there to help her feel better, making her tea to settle her stomach or anything. I tell her how worried I was about her, and how I would give anything to be with her in her time of need.

One week later

This week's letter seemed like it would never arrive. At long last I hear my name during mail call. I jump up so quickly that I hit my head on the bunk above me.

Jason walks over to me, slowly with his hands in his pockets. "Well?" he asks with raised eyebrows.

I give him a look, telling him to be quiet and start reading to myself

Percy,

I'm sorry that I haven't written yet this week. I've had the wildest week ever. Everything is fine, so stop worrying about me. The only thing wrong with me is that you aren't here with me and I miss you. Other than that, everything is wonderful.

I went to the doctor, I found out why I have been sick.

Percy, I am pregnant.

I drop the letter, staring at the space that the letter had previously occupied. Not believing what I had just read

Pregnant... I'm going to be a... a father.

I look at Jason and he is trying to hold his smile in. "What does the little lady say? Everything alright?"

"You knew?!" I say accusingly. "You know and you didn't tell me?"

"Piper had guessed what was happening. She is really good at reading people."

"And you didn't think it necessary to share that information?"

"It isn't my place to tell you Percy, it's your wife's. What else does she say?"

I had completely forgotten the letter was unfinished. I pick it back up and find my place again.

Percy, I am pregnant. I can't believe it, I am scared, but I have also never been happier. I didn't think that I wanted this so soon, but now that it is here, I couldn't be happier that it is.

I told your mom and she was so happy. She said that if I need any help with anything at all that I could come to her. I think she is more excited than I am, which I'm not sure how that is possible.

Please don't worry about me, Seaweed Brain. I will be completely fine. between your mom, Piper and Thalia, I have all the support I need. The only thing I need is for you to come back safe and sound so you can see our child.

I love you, and like always I miss you,
Love,
Your Wise Girl

I finish the letter and wipe the tears away from my eyes, I still can't believe it. Elation starts to fill my entire being. I am going to be a father! Am I going to be a good one?

Then, all of a sudden, a bottomless pit of fear opened in my gut. What if I follow my father's path? What if this war claims my life and this kid never knows me?

"Percy, what's wrong bud?" Jason looks down at me worried, "come on buddy talk to me." He slaps my face lightly, trying to get my attention. But I am so terrified that I can't respond.

"What's wrong with Jackson?" Our friend and commanding officer Frank Zhang comes up, seeing something is wrong. Frank is of Chinese ancestry. He is a big guy, but he has kind of a baby face, which makes it hard to take him seriously sometimes. But he is a good C.O.

"I'm not sure. His wife just sent him a letter, saying she is pregnant and he just froze."

Frank bends over to me and gives me a shake, "Come on Jackson, snap out of it, this is good news man."

"My dad... What if I end up like my dad, and because of this war, my kid never knows me?" I slowly come out of my trance, looking at my friends. They look worried, I must look about as good as I feel right now.

Frank stands and straightens up, "Percy, this is your duty, as a citizen of the United States of America. It is your duty to protect your country." He is staring straight into my eyes now. "By protecting your country, you are protecting your wife and child. Wouldn't you give your life to make sure that they are safe?" He asks me, staring down harshly at me.

"Yes sir," I say, quietly.

"I can't hear you soldier.""

I stand up, straight and strong, "Yes sir!" I shout , hopefully to solidify what Frank said, and to make myself believe it.

"Don't worry yourself about the future, whatever happens will happen. Do what you can right now to try and protect yourself, and your family."

Leave it to Frank to bring up duty and rouse your spirit up. Frank is such a good leader and has a way with speeches, that he could rouse you up enough to take on a Great White Shark bare handed.

"Thank you Frank, I needed that," I say. He reaches out and grabs my shoulder, giving me a friendly smile.

"That's what friends are for Percy. Now go write to you wife and tell her how happy you are...and leave out your fears, that's not what either of you need right now. Right now just bask in the happiness. That's an order Jackson."

"Yes sir."

"Oh, and Jackson?"

"Sir?"

He smiles at me again, "Congratulations Percy."

"Thank you sir," I sit down on my bunk and reach for my stationary. I start the letter back to Annabeth. Asking her whether she wants a boy or girl, what names she likes, what color she plans on painting the room, and what she is going to do when it comes if I am not back in time.

The more I write, the farther that pool of fear gets away from my mind. Now all that I feel is excitement and happiness.

A new goal in my life just appeared. Not only do I have to survive this war to return to my beautiful Wise Girl, but now I have to get back to meet little baby Jackson.

Notes