Chapter Text
Luke woke up with his alarm in the morning for his shift at the bookstore. He slams his hand on the alarm so it wouldn't play, he woke and realized the day. It was November 16, his birthday. He woke up and got dressed and ready for the day. He wore a green tee and jean pants. He got ready and was about to walk out when he sees Percy and Annabeth.
Annabeth is cooking pancakes as the smoke alarms goes off. "sh*t!, these were supposed to be a surprise", she says. Percy retorts back, "I told you not to surprise him". They both look to see him standing there. They look at him frozen looking at each other. Annabeth starts, "Luke, this was meant to be a surprise, I wanted to make you your favorite chocolate chip pancakes for your birthday", she explains. Percy tries to take a bit out of one but Annabeth slaps his hand. Percy looks at her annoyed, and she looks at him gesturing for him to back her up. He looks back to Luke, and continues, "yeah, man, we know chocolate chip pancakes are your favorite, so we tried to find a recipe to make it". Luke looks at both of them surprised.
Annabeth continues, "Anyways, Happy birthday, Luke, you're 21 now", she says still shocked by his age. She hugs him and he hugs her back. "Legally allowed to drink", Percy adds. "Thanks", Luke says as he makes his way to the kitchen counter. "How does it feel?", Percy questions. Annabeth gets the plates while Percy sits with Luke chewing a piece of bacon. Luke shrugs, "I guess the same, but it does feel nice to think I don't need to use a fake ID anymore", he says. Annabeth puts the plate of pancakes in front of Luke and Percy takes one.
He starts eating it and it tastes just like home. He still feels and remembered when his mom used to cook them all the time, before she lost herself. He remembered his mom cooking them for him and making sure he looked the very best to start his day. His mind wanders in these memories for a moment.
Percy starts again, "Hey, after your shift, can you help me with this homework assignment?", Percy asks. "My teachers asked me to write an essay on the Emperor Augustus and I have no idea where to start." he explains. Luke nods, "Sure, I can help", he says. Percy smiles, his tutor was secured. Annabeth sighs, joining them and warns, "Just make sure it's in his words this time if you're helping, last time there was a situation with it", Annabeth says remembering when one of Percy's teachers accused him of cheating because his words did not sound like him at all and Percy had to explain that he just got help from Luke for it.
She also adds, "I don't know why you don't want my help though", she adds, eager to help him. Percy sighs and rolls eyes, "It's not that I don't want your help, it's just every time we do this, you always make it boring and uninteresting, at least, Luke makes it fun", he says. They both look to Luke, Luke gestures his hands waving, "No, no way im not getting into this again", but he also adds, "But sometimes you gotta admit, Annie, sometimes you do have a tendency to drone on about the most tiniest detail that really doesn't matter in the long run". Annabeth looks at both annoyed and shocked, "well then I'm taking away those pancakes", she says as she fake takes his plate. He covers it to stop her, "no not the pancakes", he fake gasps. Annabeth shakes her head, "you're lucky it's your birthday", she warns. "Oh I know", he says taking the last bite of his pancake. "And by the way, these are delicious", he says. Annabeth smiles, "Glad you enjoyed them", Annabeth says. He brushes his teeth and finally is off to work.
The work goes slowly but is pretty standard. He learns some stuff and then he is on his way home. At home, Percy come home with his computer on, looking up anything he can find about Emperor Augustus, he can't find much and almost gives up while Annabeth is baking Luke's cake. Luke comes home and lies on the couch. "Hey, I'm almost done with the cake", Annabeth says while looking at the ingredients, stressed out with how much of what to put. Sally was always better at it, she thought. Luke looks at her sympathetic. She didn't have to bake him a cake. He walks towards her, making sure she's okay. He smiles looking at her though. To think someone cares for him so much to bake him a cake. He thinks back to his memories and doesn't even remember the last time he really fully celebrated it with anybody. It was always on the run or with Camp Half-Blood and sure it was fun, celebrating it with Camp Half-Blood, but it wasn't the same as celebrating it with family and he never had a cake at Camp Half-Blood. He looks to her sympathetically and pats her shoulder, she looks up finally at him. He speaks to her softly, "you know, you didn't have to bake me a cake", he says honestly. Annabeth chuckles and smiles, "I know, I just wanted you to feel like", she pause trying to find the right word. "loved?", he questioned trying to fill it in. Annabeth stopped and chuckled, nodding, "yeah, like I wanted you to feel appreciated and loved cuz you are", she confesses playfully putting her hand on his shoulder and tapping it. She continues, "Percy and I, we both care about you, and we just wanted to show you that we do and wanted you to have a good birthday, we've been through a lot together", she says trying to explains. "I know", he shudders nodding remembering it all. He smiles, "you don't have to explain, I appreciate and love you guys too", he says as he goes closer to hug her and she hugs him back. "Happy birthday, Luke", she says again. "Thanks", he says letting go. Percy comes in with his computer. "Finally, you're home", he says impatiently. "Now can you help me with this?", Percy pleads begging for Luke's help. He nods, "Alright, let's see what this assignment is", he says.
After a few long hours of helping Percy with his essay, the cake was finally done with the icing complete. Annabeth calls them both. They go to the kitchen and light up the candles singing Happy Birthday to Luke and Luke opens his gifts. Seeing them altogether, Luke couldn't imagine a better birthday than this, just celebrating it with his friends without any warnings of danger in site. Everything was peaceful, no danger or quest to survive, no demigods chasing them, no monster, just him and his friends celebrating his special day. Luke couldn't remember the last time he didn't have a ticking clock counting his demise. Sure, it wasn't a perfect day. But, he couldn't ask for a better one.
