The days flowed by like a gentle river, and before they knew it, the seventh day had arrived.
The atmosphere inside the Temple was different today. It was charged with energy, buzzing with anticipation.
Theo and Percy were sitting cross-legged directly in front of the pedestal, not moving an inch.
They hadn't blinked in what felt like hours, their eyes glued to the object between them.
The egg was vibrating.
Not violently, but with a steady, rhythmic tremor, like a small engine running inside.
Every few moments, a soft click or crack sound would echo, and the shell would shift slightly, as if whatever was inside was stretching and preparing itself.
"It's happening," Percy breathed out, his voice barely above a whisper, leaning forward so far he was almost falling over. "It's really happening. Look, look! It moved again!"
"I see it, I see it," Theo whispered back, his hands clasped tightly together between his knees, his heart hammering against his ribs like a drum. "Just... be patient. It needs time."
But patience was the last thing either of them had right now.
They watched, mesmerized, as the pearlescent shell began to glow with blinding intensity. The light was so bright they had to shield their eyes for a moment.
CRACK!
A loud sound split the air, and a large fissure appeared running down the side of the egg.
Then, another.
And then the shell broke open completely.
Pieces of shimmering stone-like material fell away, dissolving into soft sparkles of light before they even hit the floor.
The dust settled. The light dimmed down to a gentle glow.
And there, resting on the blue velvet cushion, was the new life.
Theo and Percy froze.
They held their breath. Their minds raced, preparing for anything.
A majestic phoenix? A fierce dragon? A wise owl? A terrifying beast? A cute fox?
They were ready for anything.
Anything but this.
Blinking slowly, adjusting to the light, was a small child.
...
...
Silence. Absolute, deafening silence.
Percy's mouth fell open. His eyes went wide, wider than they had ever been before, staring blankly at the cushion. He looked like a statue that had just been turned to stone by Medusa's gaze.
Theo just stared. His brain literally stopped working for a few seconds. He blinked once. Twice.
It was a baby.
A real, living, breathing little boy. He looked to be about one year old, small, delicate, with chubby cheeks and tiny limbs, just old enough to hold his head up and sit by himself.
Not scales. Not feathers. Not fur. Just soft, smooth skin and tiny fingers and toes.
"Uh..." Percy made a strangled noise in his throat, pointing a shaking finger at the cushion. "Theo?"
"Yeah?" Theo answered, his voice sounding distant and hollow.
"Is it... is it just me... or did that egg just hatch a baby?" Percy squeaked, looking like he was about to pass out. "Like... a real one-year-old?!"
"I... I think..." Theo swallowed hard, his eyes not moving from the sight. "I think it did."
They both looked at each other, then back at the child.
"A baby?!" They both shouted in unison, completely losing their cool.
Percy scrambled backward on his butt, tripping over his own legs in shock. "What do you mean it's a one-year-old?! Your mom gave you an infant?! We are too young to be dads!!"
"I don't know!!" Theo yelled back, equally panicked, his face pale white. "I was expecting a familiar! A guardian beast! Not a little human!"
They stared at the tiny creature in horror and confusion. This was way beyond their pay grade.
But then, as if reacting to their loud voices, the boy moved.
He stretched his tiny arms upwards, letting out a soft, sweet babbling sound that was somehow louder than their shouting.
And then, amazingly, he pushed himself up onto his little bottom and sat up straight, looking around with curious eyes.
And that was when Theo and Percy stopped panicking long enough to actually look at him.
They froze again, this time for a completely different reason.
The boy had hair as dark as midnight, the exact same shade as Percy's. But it wasn't straight or messy, it was soft, thick, and beautifully curled, just like Theo's. It framed his small face perfectly, looking soft and fluffy like a little cloud.
And then... the boy looked directly at them.
Theo's breath hitched.
His eyes were wide and bright, a stunning color that looked like warm amber or honey that had been glazed in sunlight.
They were clear, intelligent, and held a glow that seemed otherworldly.
It was the most beautiful thing either of them had ever seen.
The boy blinked those honey-colored eyes, looked at Percy, then looked at Theo, and suddenly... a huge, gummy smile spread across his tiny face.
He gurgled happily, waving his tiny hands in the air as if greeting them.
But Theo wasn't smiling anymore.
Slowly, very slowly, Theo turned his head to look at Percy. His eyes were narrowed into slits, his face displaying pure accusation.
"Percy," Theo said, his voice low and dangerous.
"Y-yeah?" Percy stuttered, shrinking back slightly under the glare.
"Explain this," Theo demanded, pointing a shaking finger at the child's head. "Explain why this child has hair as black as night! Exactly like yours!"
"Huh?!" Percy blinked, looking completely lost and genuinely confused. "What? What are you talking about?!"
"I am talking about the hair!" Theo stressed, poking Percy hard in the arm. "My hair is blonde! Where did this raven-black hair come from, huh?! Tell me!"
"I-I don't know!!" Percy defended himself wildly, hands up in the air, looking just as baffled as he was accused. "I swear, Theo! I really don't know! I'm just as confused as you are! How am I supposed to know why it looks like me?! It just... happened! I didn't do anything!"
Theo scoffed, crossing his arms tightly over his chest, looking absolutely suspicious. "It's exactly your color! And then it has my curls! It looks like... it looks like..."
Theo stopped, his face turning bright red.
"It looks like we made him or something!" Theo whisper-shouted, looking like he was about to have a heart attack. "What did you do, Percy?! Did you touch the egg when I wasn't looking?! Did you do something weird to it?!"
"I didn't do anything!" Percy yelled, his own face turning just as red as Theo's. "Okay! Fine! Maybe I touched it once! Just a little bit! When you were asleep! But I just patted it! I didn't give it my DNA or anything!! I swear I don't know why it has my hair!"
Percy really didn't understand. He kept looking back and forth between his own dark hair and the baby's head, frowning deeply, completely baffled.
"You touched it?!" Theo shrieked, eyes popping out. "Now look what happened! It took your hair! It's gonna be a Seaweed Brain too!!"
"Hey! Being a Seaweed Brain is a compliment!" Percy argued indignantly, though he was sweating nervously. "And... well... look at him! He looks perfect! He has my hair and your curls! He's... he's like the perfect combination!"
Theo looked back at the little boy, who was currently clapping his tiny hands together happily, rocking those black curls perfectly, looking incredibly pleased with himself.
Theo let out a long, frustrated groan, burying his face in his hands.
"Unbelievable," Theo muttered. " Look at that black hair, why not blonde... I'm the one who spent seven days nurturing him, so why does he look more like you?"
Percy still couldn't understand it. He looked at the boy's hair, then at his own hands, frowning deeply.
"Seriously though..." Percy muttered quietly to himself, utterly baffled. "Why is his hair exactly like mine? It's exactly the same black... how does that even happen..."
"Wah..." Percy let out a weak sound, his panic instantly replaced by pure awe as he looked at the boy again. "Oh my gods... Theo... look at him..."
"He..." Theo whispered, reaching out a hand hesitantly, as if touching a dream. "He looks..."
The little boy seemed to agree. He wobbled forward, and without any fear at all, he leaned over the edge. Theo gasped and caught him instantly, lifting the warm, heavy little body into his arms.
As the baby snuggled deep into his chest, seeking warmth and safety, a memory flashed in Theo's mind, clear as day.
"On the seventh day, speak your true name."
Theo took a deep breath, his eyes softening completely as he looked down at the tiny face.
"Hello there, little one," he whispered gently, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'm Theo."
And deep within his heart, where no one else could hear, he added silently:
'I am Timotheus.'
Percy flinched.
He looked sharply at Theo, his head tilting slightly in confusion.
For a moment, it was as if he had heard a whisper in the air, a different name echoing in his mind.
He frowned, curious why Theo had said a different name in his thoughts, why there was a distinction between who he showed the world and who he truly was.
Percy's hand twitched slightly, wanting to ask, wanting to know. But he held himself back. He bit his lip, looking at Theo's profile, so serious, so full of secrets.
Percy decided to give him space. He respected Theo's privacy. He wouldn't push.
He would wait until Theo was ready to tell him himself.
The boy snuggled immediately into Theo's chest, grabbing his shirt with tiny fists, and then looked up at Percy, his honey eyes sparkling with love and recognition.
It was as if this child had been waiting for them its whole life.
"He looks..." Percy said again, his voice softening, tears actually starting to prick at the corners of his eyes. "He looks like... ours."
Theo looked at the baby. Black hair like Percy. Curly like his. Eyes like warm honey.
It wasn't a monster. It wasn't an animal.
It was family.
Theo felt his heart swell so much it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.
All the accusations and shock melted away, replaced by an overwhelming wave of long-lost warmth.
"You really are full of surprises, aren't you, little one?" Theo whispered, smiling down at him.
The boy giggled again, patting Theo's face with a soft hand, looking perfectly content.
Percy sat there cross-legged, staring at them with his mouth slightly open, still trying to process everything.
He reached out tentatively, brushing a finger lightly against the soft black hair, still amazed and confused.
"So," Percy whispered softly, not taking his eyes off the child. "What are you going to name him?"
Theo was quiet for a moment. He looked deep into those honey-colored eyes, feeling a connection that went beyond magic or blood.
"Nathaniel," Theo said softly, but firmly.
"Nathaniel..." Percy tested the name on his tongue, nodding slowly. "Nathaniel. It sounds nice. Strong. Gentle."
Theo held the baby's tiny hand, a gentle, faraway look in his eyes.
'Nathaniel,' Theo thought to himself, his heart feeling heavy but full. 'It means "Gift of God". A remembrance of the thing that shouldn't be forgotten. My past and for the future.'
"Nathaniel," Percy repeated, grinning widely now, his eyes shining. "Welcome to the world, Nate."
After a few hours.
Now that the initial shock had worn off, reality started to set in. They had a child. A real, living, one-year-old boy.
Theo was sitting on the rug, Nathaniel comfortably settled in his lap. The little boy was absolutely fascinated by Theo's hair.
He was grabbing at the soft blonde locks, tangling his tiny fingers in them, and tugging gently, looking completely delighted with his new toy.
Theo winced slightly every now and then, but he didn't have the heart to move the baby's hands away.
"So," Theo started, looking down at Nathaniel, then up at Percy who was sitting cross-legged opposite them, watching with interest. "What are we going to do with him?"
Percy blinked. "Do with him? What do you mean? We keep him, obviously! He's yours."
"I know that, Percy," Theo rolled his eyes. "But where? We can't stay in this temple forever. Eventually, we have to go back."
"Oh." Percy scratched his cheek. "Right. Back to Camp Half-Blood."
Theo nodded slowly, looking thoughtful. "Exactly. Should we bring him there? Is it safe for a baby?"
"Of course it's safe!" Percy argued immediately. "Well... relatively safe. There are fences, and borders, and the forest is mostly cleared. It's way safer than out here in the wild. And there are other kids there too! He can play."
"Hmm." Theo didn't look entirely convinced. He adjusted Nathaniel in his arms, and the baby gurgled happily, still chewing on a strand of hair. "But what will the other campers think? A one-year-old? Who looks like... well..."
Theo gestured vaguely at Nathaniel's black curls.
"Like us?" Percy finished the sentence, looking a bit surprised himself. "So what? Let them think whatever they want! He's our responsibility now."
"But what about Annabeth?" Theo asked, his voice dropping slightly. "She's smart. She's going to ask questions. A lot of questions. 'Where did he come from?' 'Who are his parents?' 'Why does he look like this?!'"
Percy threw his hands up in the air in frustration.
"I don't know!! I'm not the thinker!! You know that!! I'm the doer! I fight things! I hold up the sky! I don't do planning and explaining!!" Percy groaned.
Theo stared at him flatly, deadpan.
"Seriously," Theo muttered. "What was I even thinking asking you?"
"Hey!" Percy protested, offended. "I'm trying my best here! This is new territory for me too!"
They both fell silent, staring at the little bundle of joy in Theo's arms. Nathaniel seemed completely oblivious to their crisis.
He was happily humming to himself, his eyes wide and bright, patting Theo's cheek with a soft hand.
"Ba... ba... bi..." Nathaniel babbled loudly, his voice sweet and clear. "Gu... guu..."
"Aww, listen to him," Percy said, softening instantly, forgetting all his worries. "He's trying to talk. Cute."
"He's just drooling, Percy," Theo corrected dryly.
But despite his cool tone, Theo couldn't stop the small smile tugging at his lips. It was impossible to be stressed when the baby was this cute.
Nathaniel pulled himself up using Theo's hair, causing Theo to yelp slightly and turned around to face Percy. He waved his tiny arms wildly, kicking his legs in excitement.
"Pah! Pah-pah!"
Percy just raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, little man."
Nathaniel giggled. It was a sound like wind chimes.
And then... something strange happened.
As they were both watching him, smiling and talking, Nathaniel's form suddenly seemed to... blur.
Just for a split second, the light seemed to pass right through him.
Theo and Percy stopped talking instantly. They leaned forward, frowning.
"Wait..." Percy squinted. "Did he just...?"
Theo held him tighter, but his eyes went wide.
"Nathaniel?"
The baby didn't disappear completely, but he definitely changed. His skin took on a translucent, shimmering quality, like heat haze or a mirage. He looked like a hologram.
And then, right before their very eyes, he simply... faded away.
One moment he was solid, warm, and heavy in Theo's arms.
The next moment... poof.
He was gone.
Not just invisible. Intangible.
Theo's arms, which were holding him securely just a second ago, fell closed onto empty air.
There was no weight. No warmth. Nothing.
"..."
"..."
Percy and Theo stared at Theo's empty lap. Then they stared at each other.
"Uh..." Percy's voice was calm but confused. "Theo?"
"Yeah?" Theo's voice was equally steady, though his eyes were wide.
"Where did he go?"
"I... I don't know!" Theo waved his hands through the space where the baby had been sitting. "He was just here! He was holding my hair! And then he just... turned into smoke?!"
"Nathaniel?" Percy called out, looking around the room. "Come on, this isn't funny."
Suddenly, a soft giggle echoed right next to Percy's ear.
Giggle... hee hee...
Percy jumped slightly, spinning around. "Who was that?!"
But there was no one there.
And then, they saw it. Floating in the air, about two feet off the ground, was a faint, glowing outline of a small child.
He was completely transparent, looking like a cute little spirit, flying around the room happily, his laughter echoing as if from everywhere and nowhere at once.
He was playing peek-a-boo with reality itself.
"He's..." Theo stared, jaw dropping to the floor. "He's invisible? And intangible?!"
"He can phase through things?" Percy muttered, watching him zoom past a pillar. "Oh wow. That's a neat trick."
"He's not just a normal kid," Theo said, putting a hand over his face. "He's definitely a spirit."
Nathaniel seemed to love the reaction. He zoomed around the room faster, laughing mischievously, passing right through stone and furniture.
"Well," Percy sighed, leaning back on his hands. "This explains a lot. How are we supposed to take care of a baby that can literally disappear whenever he wants?"
Nathaniel zoomed past Percy's face, blowing a raspberry, and then reappeared suddenly, solid and warm, right back into Theo's arms as if nothing had happened.
He grinned up at them innocently, blinking his big eyes.
'Boo.' His expression seemed to say.
Theo and Percy just stared at him.
They were definitely going to have their hands full.