Okay, a big shout out to @yxna_x  who gave me the idea for this one-shot! Thank you! I finally got around to doing it :)

*  *  *

"Annabeth, I love you. I love you so, so much, but this isn't going to work."

Annabeth pulled him along by the hand, not paying any attention to his whining. Percy wasn't co-operating.

His feet dragged against the concrete as he purposefully tried to slow his strides. They were a bare five feet away from the front door, but Percy was grounded, refusing to go any closer.

"I mean," He continued. "When I said I'd spend the day with you, I meant spend the day with you."

"Percy!" Annabeth said, frustration lacing her voice. "It's just Bobby and Mathew!"

"Exactly!" He shouted, his voice an octave higher. "They're gonna set us on fire!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "They're older. And a lot more mature. Trust me, we'll be fine. If we don't go, they'll set Dad on fire."

Percy laughed nervously, looking up at the house in front of them. "That's reassuring." Then his eyes snapped back to her. "Wait, your dad. Does this mean I'll have to see him again?"

"Yes."

He swallowed. His voice small and meek, he said, "Er, does he know- about... us?"

Annabeth involuntarily blushed. With one final pull, she managed to tug Percy free from his paralysed state. The babysitting was no longer his main concern.

"Annabeth," he said slowly and carefully as they made their way to the front steps. "This is not going to end well. They're going to attack us with Legos. Babysitting is never the answer. Let's go back. I really don't want to meet your dad."

He'd turned around to leave but Annabeth grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him back. Holding him in place, she rang the doorbell with her free hand.

"Good job, Wise Girl." Percy muttered. "You just sealed our doom."

Annabeth groaned and muttered something about having to take care of three babies. Percy opened his mouth to protest but a noise from the other side of the door cut him off.

The door rattled, someone called out, "I'm coming!" And finally it opened.

Frederick Chase didn't look any different from the last time Percy had seen him, three years ago. The same crazed scientist look with the blonde hair and the glasses. The smile lines around his eyes matched his expression of delight exactly. "Annabeth!"

He came forward and gave his daughter a big hug. As terrified as he was, Percy smiled at the sight of it, but it was short lived. Frederick a Chase turned to him next. "Percy Jackson, am I right?"

"Yes sir." He tried for a smile and held out his hand as if to shake Dr Chase's but the older man gave him hug too, not minding the fact that Percy was a few inches taller.

"I still remember you." Dr Chase told him. "Helping my daughter, helping our family come back together." He looked like he wanted to say more, express his eternal gratitude somehow, but it seemed he though better of it.

He smiled at Annabeth again. "Well, let's go inside, shall we?"

Percy and Annabeth followed him into the home, Annabeth closing he door behind her.

Percy leaned over and whispered softly, "What if he doesn't like me?"

Annabeth let out a huff of agitation. "Percy." She whispered back. "He already loves you."

The house was the same as ever. There were still Legos sprawled around everywhere, still the comforting sense of homeliness. Even the Jazz music playing in the background. It was all so eerily similar, Percy felt like he'd been transported back a few years.

"Where's Helen?" Annabeth asked, looking around.

"Ah, she's gone to visit her mother."

"Oh," Annabeth said. "Right. So, should we-"

"Sit down!" Dr Chase said hurriedly. "Sit down, sit down." He led them over to the living room, where the television was still on, softly dictating information about aeroplane wingspans.

Annabeth sat down opposite to Dr Chase, and Percy carefully sat beside her, leaving a respectable distance between them. She shot him an amused look and he felt his cheeks growing a little warmer.

Dr Chase looked them over for some time. "It's being so long."

Annabeth looked down. "Yeah. Too long."

Percy looked a little surprised. "You didn't come back after the Giant War?"

"There was too much happening." She said bravely.

Dr Chase looked concerned at the mention of a Giant War but he hid it well. "The past doesn't matter. You're here. And I'm so thankful you're both safe."

Annabeth smiled and Percy could tell that it was a real, genuine smile.

"Percy," Dr Chase addressed, as a change of subject. "Tell me, son. How are you."

Percy stammered. "I- I'm fine, sir."

"You've grown taller since the last time I saw you." He remarked casually. "Quite the handsome young man, now aren't you?"

Percy's cheeks felt hot. He could practically feel Annabeth's laughter from beside him.

He chuckled nervously and rubbed his knuckles to his cheek, head down, in a vain attempt to stop the blushing. "Uh- I'm not really sure about the last bit."

Dr Chase laughed, the teasing humour evident in his eyes.

Thankfully, just then, a little boy came out of one of the rooms. He was crying, holding what looked like a broken, plastic transformer. "Daddy! Mathew broke my Bumblebee!"

Then he saw Annabeth and his eyes lit up. "Annabeth!"

He ran at her, the transformer forgotten, and gave her a hug. Annabeth ruffled his hair and smiled. "Hey Bobby! You look taller."

"I am." He said proudly. "And I'm not Bobby. You have to call me Bob."

Annabeth's smile turned around for a minute, but she composed herself and said, "Alright then, Bob it is."

Another boy, looking slightly older, whom Percy decided was Mathew, walked into the living area. He saw Percy and said, "Who are you?"

Bobby looked over at Percy, as if he just noticed him. He gasped and said to his brother, "Annabeth has a boyfriend!"

Dr Chase chuckled. "Now boys."

Mathew grinned devilishly. "Look, he's gone all red!" Percy groaned and hid his head in his hands.

"They're not denying it!" Bobby shouted.

"Alright!" Annabeth screamed over them. "Enough. If you don't behave, You won't get any cookies!"

Mathew said, "You're going to make cookies?"

"Annabeth-" Percy tried to tell her.

"We won't if you don't behave." Annabeth told them.

Percy groaned. "We?"

Dr Chase stood up and said, "I think I'll leave them in your capable hands. I should be going now. Something at work came up yesterday night. I'll have to go check it out."

Annabeth untangled herself from Bobby and hugged Dr Chase. "Bye Dad."

Percy stood up too and shook his hand. Dr Chase smiled at him and said, "Be good to my daughter, Jackson."

Percy smiled with what he hoped was reassurance. "Yeah, of course."

When Annabeth's dad left, he turned around and said, "What now?"

Bobby and Mathew shouted, "Cookies!"

Annabeth shrugged. "Cookies, I guess."

* * *

It didn't go exactly as planned.

Annabeth sat Mathew and Bobby down at the dinning table where she could keep an eye on them from the kitchen. She found them some old colouring books, but Mathew and Bobby didn't seem interested in colouring. They were more in favour of fighting to the death with their Transformers.

Annabeth and Percy put on some aprons and gathered the ingredients they thought they would need for the cookies. Flour, sugar, chocolate, butter...

"I think you should be in charge." Percy said.

"Your mom bakes practically every day. You have baking genes in your DNA." Annabeth pointed out.

"Nah, I take after my dad. I have mermaid genes. Now you, you baked that cupcake for my birthday."

"With Tyson's help." Annabeth said.

"Plus, you signed us up for this. I vote you take the lead." Percy said and steered her over to stand in front of the ingredients. Annabeth scoffed and tied her hair back.

Mathew rocked back on his chair and leaned forward. "Are you guy done yet?" He called out.

Annabeth looked around and said, "Bobby, sit down properly."

"I'm not Bobby! He's Bobby!"

"Mathew, sit down."

Percy added, "Or you'll fall and break your neck."

Annabeth laughed from beside him. "Maybe not so violent. He's only seven."

"Are you kidding?" Percy demanded. "Look at them pummelling each other with plastic toys! They can handle violent."

Bobby copied his brother's actions and rocked on his chair. "Hey! Love birds! Stop making out in the kitchen and bring us our cookies!"

"And how old is he?" Percy asked.

Annabeth grimaced. "Six. Here, help me measure out the flour."

A few minutes later, Percy realised everything was just a little too quiet. He looked over to the table but only Bobby was sitting there, playing happily with himself.

"Wise Girl? Where's-"

Someone poked the side of his stomach. "Hey, Mr Jackson."

He looked down and saw the little dare devil standing there, smirking at him. "Are you going out with our sister?"

Annabeth looked up from where she was beating up the eggs. Percy said, "What if I am?"

Bobby called out from the table, "So have you kissed her?"

Mathew interrupted him, "How many kisses have you given her?"

"Do you want to kiss her again?"

"Do you like kissing her?"

"Do you LOVE her?"

"Are you going to marry her?"

Annabeth intervened then, "Whoa, whoa. Slow down!"

Mathew crossed his arms and stood on his tippy toes, trying to match Percy's height. He asked him seriously, "Are you going to marry our sister?"

Percy crossed his arms too, leaned down and said just as seriously. "Go back to the table."

"You can't make me." He said. "You're not my boss!"

Percy's eyes lit up dangerously. He picked up Mathew as if he weighed nothing and tossed him over his shoulder. Mathew screamed and punched his back. "Hey! Put me down, you uncultured giant!"

Percy put him down safely on the edge of the table. "Stay here. Okay?"

Mathew stuck out his tongue. "No okay."

Bobby climbed onto the table too. "Can I have a piggy back ride?"

"No, Bobby. Stay here."

"I'm Bob! I'm not Bobby!"

Percy fought back the unexpected tears. "Bob, stay here okay?"

Bobby slumped back into the chair. "Okay."

Percy made to go back but Mathew said, "Wait! I want to help you cook!"

Bobby's eyes lit up. "Me too!"

Annabeth looked up at them and said, "Oh no."

But it was too late. The two boys ran into the kitchen.

"Annabeth! Can I have some of the chocolate?"

"Hey what's this powdery substance?"

"Matt, put the flour down!" Annabeth said.

"I got this!" Percy shouted. He attempted to summersault over the kitchen counter but failed, only managing to stand unsteadily on the worktop.

Annabeth looked up at him wearily. "Get off the work top, Seaweed Brain."

"Seaweed Brain?" Bobby muttered. "How can your brain be a Seaweed Brain?"

Percy opened his mouth to answer but he tripped over a rolling pin and fell down. Luckily, he managed to break the fall, unfortunately he fell onto Annabeth, who in turn shoved him off and got up. "Alright, all of you!"

She'd picked up the rolling pin and had it pointed at Percy, who had managed to climb back to his feet. Her two brothers backed away from her, but Percy smirked. "You wouldn't hurt me."

Annabeth glared. "Try me."

"Mathew! Call 911! She's gonna kill him!" Bobby shouted.

"Coool." Mathew said.

"He's gonna die!"

Percy put his arms up in surrender. "Okay, Wise Girl, let's make a truce. We both have a common enemy and we both know that it's not me."

Annabeth looked over at Bobby and Mathew. Dead silence dawned on them.

"Agreed." She said and then she proceeded to chase Bobby and Mathew around the kitchen with the rolling pin, which would've looked rather psychotic to anyone who hadn't know them.

Bobby screamed and ran straight by Percy, who caught him in his arms and swung him around. Mathew managed to climb onto the table. He accidentally stepped on the egg batter Annabeth had been mixing and said "Gross! I'm covered in slime!"

Annabeth made a quick dash for him, but Mathew grabbed the packet of flour and she froze. "No, Mathew...don't."

He ripped open the packaging and threw the flour into the air. White powder covered every inch of the kitchen and the four of them were left as nothing less than snowmen.

Mathew was laughing maniacally, but he stopped when he saw Annabeth.

"You are dead." Annabeth told him.

Mathew screamed, hobbled off the counter and ran out the back door, Annabeth hot on his tail.

Bobby escaped from Percy's hold on him and fell to the floor on his back. "Look at me! I'm making snow angels!"

"Shouldn't we go, try to save your brother?"

Bobby sat up and said, "Nah, he's already doomed."

Percy laughed but picked him up into his arms again. "Come on, let's see what they're up to."

Before they could leave out the back door, Bobby said, "Wait!"

Percy stopped and the smaller child cleared his throat. "I would like a word with you, Mr Jackson."

Percy smiled at him, "Go ahead."

Bobby cleared his throat again. "If you love our sister, and I know you do, you have to promise to take care of her."

"You sound like you care a lot about her."

"I do!" Bobby said. "She ran away when I was very small but I loved her a lot! So did Daddy and Mathew. I don't think she realised. You have to make sure she never runs away again okay? Because- because she might get lost and then she'll be all alone and scared." There were small droplets of tears glistening in his eyes.

Percy managed to balance Bobby on one arm and held out the pinky of his free hand. "I promise to always make sure she's okay. And I won't ever let her feel scared or lost. Ever."

Bobby nodded his head happily and hooked his own pinky through Percy's. "You're also not allowed to break up with her."

Percy laughed. "Agreed."

"I wouldn't mind if you married her too, you know." Bobby added. "Then we can have food fights everyday!"

"Okay, now your thinking way too far ahead."

* * *

Outside, it was chaos.

Mathew had managed to get his hands on the garden hose and was spraying water everywhere manically.

Bobby screamed, jumped from Percy's arms and ran over to hide behind a tree.

Percy laughed and shouted over the chaos. The garden's sprinkler systems immediately responded to him, exploding water everywhere. Mathew screamed and jumped back, giving Annabeth the chance to take the hose from him.

"No Annabeth! Stop!" He screamed, running around the garden. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry we all look like dough! Stop!"

Annabeth didn't look ready to stop, and neither was Percy, but someone else shouted at them from behind. "SHUT UP, YOU STUPID TEENAGERS!"

Everyone froze. The sprinklers died down and Mathew shut off the hose. Percy turned around and saw an elderly man standing behind the fence that separated Annabeth's house from her neighbours. He had a potbelly and three hairs oiled back on his bald head, reminding Percy of Silenus, except Percy was pretty sure the late goat had more hairs than this man.

"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOIN'? CAN'T A MAN GET SOME PEACE AROUND HERE?"

Annabeth pushed the hair out of her face, ignoring the clumps of flour. "I'm sorry sir, we just- we were just-"

"YOU WERE JUST BEING IDIOTS." He roared. "I CAN SEE THAT."

"We'll go back inside." Percy suggested. "And stay really quiet."

"YOU BETTER!" The man said. With a final grunt he disappeared from the fence.

Annabeth started to fold up the water hose. "Alright, Mathew, Bobby, go back inside and have a bath."

"Aw c'mon!" Bobby complained. "Do I have to?"

"Yes! Go!"

The two boys ran back inside.

Percy laughed and went over to help Annabeth. "I told you this was going to be a disaster."

Annabeth smirked at him. "Oh please. You loved it."

"Just the part where the sprinklers exploded."

Annabeth laughed. Percy pulled her close and attempted to kiss her, but she stopped him saying, "We're covered in dough."

Percy smiled, showing off his famous lopsided grin. "We've been in worse situations."

They kissed. Annabeth's arms wrapped around his neck and he held her carefully by the waist. Locked in each other's embrace, dripping wet and covered in flour, it couldn't have been anymore perfect.

"Let's never babysit anyone again." Percy mumbled into the kiss.

"Never." Annabeth agreed.

Someone from behind them cleared his throat.

They broke apart and looked back to see the old man back at the fence. "I'm trying to water my garden. Would you mind continuing your insolent behaviour elsewhere, away from my line of vision?"

Percy raised a hand to the man in farewell and said, "Will do, sir."

Back in the kitchen, Annabeth and Percy decided to start restoring the place back to how it had been; flour-less.

It took them a few hours but they managed.

Afterwards, when they were all clean and refreshed in new clothes (and Percy who had simply dried the ones he'd been wearing earlier), they sat down in the living room.

They ordered pizza and put on a movie to watch.

Annabeth fell asleep on Percy shoulder halfway through. Bobby saw them and opened his mouth, probably to make fun of it or to tell Mathew, which would've been worse. But Percy put a finger to his lips and said "Shh," and Bobby, seeing Annabeth's peaceful, relaxed face, shut up and just smiled.

When Dr Chase came back, he found all of them soundly snoring. Percy's mouth was wide open, a line of drool trickling down the side. He had his arm around Annabeth who was nestled into his side. Bobby was hanging upside down from the sofa with Mathew's foot in his face.

Dr Chase smiled and found a blanket to drape over them as best as he could. He kissed Annabeth on the forehead and left them to their dreams.

Later perhaps, he would wonder why there was a rolling pin stuck outside in the apple tree.