Annabeth needed to cool down. She didn't know what was wrong with her, or why she blew up like that. She thought she was feeling fine that morning.

She sat on the swinging porch bench and squeezed her eyes shut. Her anger had found a target. She wanted to kick herself. Her face was hot with tears of frustration.

She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard the steps creak.

No, Percy. Leave me alone.

"There you are," his voice was low. "What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing. I'm fine," she shook her head and tried to wipe her eyes without making it obvious.

"I left Luke in the living room," he pointed over his shoulder. "You got something you wanna tell me?"

"Percy, I don't know," Annabeth cringed. If he was mad, he had every right to be. "Go back inside, I just need to sit out her for a minute."

"Uh huh," he turned around and scaled the steps.

He wasn't even gone for thirty seconds before he came back.

"Yeah, no," he sat down next to her.

"That wasn't exactly a minute, Percy," she stared glumly at the horizon.

"You've gotta be sick, or upset or something," he had his arm around her shoulders. "Come inside. Lukas is gonna wonder where you are."

"He doesn't need me right this minute," she scowled.

"Maybe I do," he tugged at her hands. "Come inside."

"I had no reason to yell like that."

"Well, neither did I, we both messed up," he was trying to coax her onto her feet. "You can't sit out here forever."

"I don't want forever, I just want a solid minute."

Percy opened his mouth to say something, but then turned his head and peered into the house. "Nevermind, I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" She sat up.

"I'm getting Luke," he called back.

"No, Percy, he's fine where he is!" She protested.

"I wanna get him some fresh air before it gets too hot!" He insisted, already returning with a loosely wrapped baby. "Look, there's mommy!" He crooned to him. "There she is, she's okay!"

"He's probably scared of me now," she smiled weakly.

"Nonsense, I'm not afraid of you, and I've got nothing on this guy!" He held up Luke's hand like a champion.

She melted instantly at the sight of his toothless grin.

"Luke, c'mere, baby," Annabeth scooped him into her lap and kissed the fuzz on his head.

Lukas responded by cooing in earnest and burying his face into her blouse.

She couldn't stop herself from giggling as she engulfed her son.

"So I guess you feel better," Percy sat back down next to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"Yeah, I guess," she nuzzled all over Lukas and covered him with kisses. She leaned back and rested him on her chest. "I don't remember the last time I actually relaxed."

"Me neither," Percy slouched down and hooked his chin onto her shoulder. "Maybe we should blow up on eachother more often."

"Oh, gods, I'd rather not," she rocked the bench with her foot. "At the same time, you might have a point. But it was rather one-sided, don't you think?"

"I don't know, I thought you needed to blow off some steam for a while," he took Luke's little hands and kissed them. His eyes wandered off to the east.

"What are you thinking of?" Annabeth pulled her necklace out of Luke's mouth.

"I'm thinking we haven't taken Luke on a walk yet. I really want him to see your fountains, and see the best stuff you've made."

"But Luke is the best thing I've made," she smirked.

"Annabeth, I'm so ashamed of you," Percy shook his head. "That was awful."

"Hey-" she almost protested, but was silenced by an unforseen kiss that shocked her whole system. Come to think of it, she didn't remember the last time they'd kissed, either. It came as a pleasant surprise.

But, Lukas was apparently growing restless, because he started squealing angrily and pawed at her face.

Annabeth pulled away and giggled. "Someone feels left out," she took his hands and kissed the top of his head. She examined him closely. "I think he's turning blond."

"What? No," Percy leaned closer.

"Then what do you call this?" She brushed her fingers over the new flaxen babyhairs.

"It's not blond, that's what it is," he scowled. "You have a few dark brown strands on your head, but that doesn't make you a brunette."

"You're just sore," she stuck her tongue out and stood up with Lukas in tow. "I think he's hungry again."

"Already?" Percy followed behind her. "How long has it been?"

"I finished feeding him almost two hours ago, but he didn't nurse for very long," she sat down in the living room and adjusted herself to accommodate Luke.

Percy sat down on the couch closest to them and turned on the t.v. Annabeth didn't pay attention to the stuffy news lady. It was probably the same old drivel.

"Hey, Annabeth, look at this," Percy urged.

What? Percy was interested in something on the news?

She tore her eyes away from Luke and looked up at the screen. "What's so-? Oh."

According to the stuffy weather man, introduced by the stuffy news lady, a freak inclement weather system was traveling across the country. It might even get chilly in California.

Of course, veteran demigods knew that it was most likely caused by rampant storm spirits, but there had to be a reason. It could've been anything, but something of this supposed severity usually meant turmoil on Olympus. And that was never a good thing.

"What do you think this is all about?" She lifted Lukas up and shifted him to her other side.

"Oh, I bet a bunch of nature spirits are on strike or something," Percy's right hand was shaking. "Probably no big deal."