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Sally sat in the armchair, watching her son and future daughter-in-law fussing off baby Estelle. The young couple adored the tiny Blofis girl. Every chance they got, they would lavish her with attention. She was so proud of the way that Percy had taken to being a big brother. She had caught him singing to her in ancient Greek on more than one occasion. She was also very proud of Annabeth. She had a dislike for mortals after the way her family had changed with the birth of her half-siblings.
She got up and went into the kitchen for some water. Paul was fixing a snack for himself as she came in.
”The teens got Estelle?” He asked amused.
Sally chuckled as she poured herself a drink. “Yes, I doubt they would let me in there at the moment.”
The doorbell rang and then there was the sound of retreating footsteps. A soft cry is heard from the door. She knew that sound, it was the sound Estelle made when she was distressed. She ran towards the door and opened it. A baby basket with a blanket covering it was lying there. The blanket was sea green and Sally smelled a sea breeze. She reached down took the basket and moved the blanket. A small baby with a pink one-piece outfit is fussing inside. She has a tuft of raven black hair and bright sea-green eyes. She looked just like Percy had at that age. A blue envelope was tucked into the blankets. She looked past the child and could not see anyone in the hallways. She brought the basket in and closed the door.
“Paul, Percy, Annabeth. Come here.” She called.
Paul walked over, his brows wrinkled in confusion. Percy and Annabeth came in, the blonde holding Estelle in her arms. She did chuckle as she saw her son pouting at Annabeth holding his sister. He stopped his pouting when he saw the basket.
“Mom, what is going on?” He asked as they reached her.
“I don’t know.” Sally set the basket down on the table took out the envelope and handed it to Paul.
She then took the baby from the basket, trying to calm her down. The baby kept crying until Percy came into her field of view. She stopped and reached out a hand to him. Percy stepped forward and offered her a finger, just like he did Estelle. She gripped it.
“She’s strong. Stronger than Estelle.” Percy’s sea-green eyes are locked on the child’s. “She smells of the sea.”
Paul opened the letter and read.
”’Dear Perseus Jackson. I am very sorry to do this to you, but I cannot do this. The idea of raising a child, let alone a demigod child, scares me to my core. When Neptune came to me, I was so smug to be dating a god. I never even imagined our time together could result in a new life. I don’t think I could stand it if I came to love her and she was killed by a monster or god. Neptune me about you, his only demigod son, and that you would help if I needed it. I am a terrible person but I am going to leave her to her immortal family. I just cannot handle it. I’m so sorry, little Marina. I hope you can forgive me for being such a coward. Please, if you are half the hero your father claims, protect her as I cannot. Farewell.’”
As he read, Paul’s voice grew angrier. Annabeth started crying into Percy’s shoulder. Sally could see he longed to comfort her, but he was too busy distracting little Marina from crying. Her eyes were drawn to the tattoo on Percy’s arm, the SPQR tattoo, and the trident. One day, Marina would have that same mark on her arm. She was a Roman demigod after all.
Percy looked up from his godly half-sister. “I’ll contact Frank and Hazel. They are the Roman experts, they should be able to give us some hints on how the Roman side of things works. Or I can contact Dad and see what he thinks. If he is aware of his Roman side's activities. I can give up college and raise her in New Rome maybe.”
Sally exchanged a look with Paul. She asked a very important question and he nodded in support. Sally stepped forward and pulled Percy into a hug.
“No, you will still go to college. You have given enough for the gods and Olympus. Paul and I will raise Marina alongside Estelle. We’ll say we found her abandoned and fell in love with her and wish to adopt her. She may not be my child, but she is the sister of my son. The child of the god I once called my love. I will never let anything happen to this girl. Greek or Roman, that won’t matter to me.”
Percy hugged her back. “You will have to give her to the wolves one day, Mom. Let them take her to Camp Jupiter to be trained.”
Sally tried in vain to soothe down her hair. “I was afraid of sending you off alone, Percy. Marina won’t be alone. She’ll have Frank, Hazel, Annabeth, and you looking out for her. I will be sad to hand her to Lupa, but I will do it. Go, tell Neptune I’ll raise his daughter as I did Poseidon’s son. I am sure he is worried about her.”
”I was.” Came a voice from the door. She turned to see Poseidon standing there. He was dressed as he usually was for fishing. But his face was more serious than when she had last seen him.
”I was worried when she gave me a false name that this might happen. I was foolish to think she would rise to the occasion like you did, Sally. She was such a good swimmer. She could have been on the Olympic team this year. She was so lovely too. I let lust rule my heart. I’m so sorry, my son. How disappointed you must be in your father.”
Percy stepped forward and pulled this combination of Poseidon and Neptune into a hug. Sally could see Annabeth smiling at them.
“Never, Dad. I just worry for Marina. I’ve met so many of my half-siblings and how they turned out. I don’t want that for her.”
The god nodded and ran a hand through the black hair he, Percy, and Marina shared. “I know. At least now, the whole Greek versus Roman thing is in the past. She can safely go to both camps with you.”
Percy nodded. “She will be my full sister. I’ll teach her how to fight, how to control the water, and how to sass Ares.”
Sally laughed before adding. “Maybe not that last one? I would rather at least one of my children not offend every god they meet. I get the feeling Estelle is already going to be too like Percy anyway. I can only imagine the headaches the three of them will cause on Olympus.”
“Your saints, both you and Paul. Well, I must be back to my kingdom. Percy, good luck in New Rome.” He stepped over to the baby basket and kissed Marina on the head. “I’ll try to visit more often.”
He left the room before assuming his true form and vanishing. Sally reached down and picked up Marina, her soon-to-be daughter.
”If she is going to be your full sister, Percy, I guess that means she is Marina Jackson. Welcome to the family. I want you to meet your half-sister, Estelle. Your stepfather, Paul. Your sister-in-law-to-be, Annabeth.”
Percy and Annabeth turned bright red. There was not much time to tease the teens though. Lots of work needed to be done to prepare the house for two infants. Sally braced herself. She wondered what kind of hero little Marina would turn out to be.