Percy and Annabeth-Their future

Say Yes To The Dress?

It was May, and the Thanksgiving shananigans seemed like history as Sophia, Lena, Taylor, and I walked down the bustling streets of Boston. The fiery air didn't keep anyone away from their busy lives... or shopping therapy. The sun bulleted down on Newbury Street as we dove into the bridal shop, my words already getting caught in my throat. 

"Hello," a woman said, smiling. "Welcome to Enchantment Bridal, do you have an appointment?" Her fingers sat on the keys, ready to type.

"Yes," Sophia smiled, her cheeks turning rosy. "For eleven o'clock? It's under Jackson."

"Ah, yup, it's right here. If you would, just take a seat right over there, and your consultant will be right with you." 

We walked over, Sophia's hands beginning to shake. I could tell she was still not sure if everything was real or not. I couldn't either. She had decided not to invite everyone to come with her to try on dresses because the pressure and opinions might overrule her own, and I was kind of glad ot have this Jackson ladies outing. It gave me a chance to get to see my baby girl before she was escorted down the aisle to her new life. She'd only just graduated from college (eek!) a week ago, and here she was looking at WEDDING DRESSES. The whole thing was so fast-paced and crazy that I just knew it would work. 

"Hi!" I was awoken from my trying to wrap my head around Sophia's plans by an overly perky girl with a name tag that read 'Jordan.' "You must be Sophia! It's so nice to meet you, I'm Jordan!" 

Sophia seemed to notice the peppiness of Jordan too, and raised her eyebrows. "Yes, it's nice to meet you too."

"And who have you brought with you today?" She smiled, taking a seat on the chair opposite us. 

"This is my mom, and my two little sisters." We all gave a little wave, but I was pretty sure Jordan could figure out which of us was Sophia's mother, and which were her sisters.

"Well, ladies, I'm going to steal Sophia for a second, and we'll be right back with her first dress!" 

We patiently waited as Sophia probably declined some pink frou-frou dress Jordan was trying to force her into when Percy texted me.

Percy: How's the dress shopping?

I smiled at the text, knowing how much he cared about Sophia and her happiness. It had been so hard even faking acceptance of Logan... I was afraid to see what leaving her with him at the alter would bring. 

Annabeth: Great! We haven't seen anything yet, but she's on her way out now. Talk to you in a bit!

Percy: Ttyl

It was true; Sophia had just stepped out of the hallway in a long white gown. It was lace, was sleevless, but not strapless. Around her waist, the tightness slipped into a gentle A-line dress. It looked so timelessly classic, and she looked so timelessly blissful. 

"Well? Mom?" Jordan asked, looking my way. 

"It's- it's gorgeous, Sophia," I said, smiling at my beautiful daughter. 

"Yeah, Sophia, that's such a pretty dress. You look amazing in it," Taylor gazed in awe at the dress, and Lena smiled. 

"Something off," Lena said, seeing the confusion on Sophia's face. "Do you like it?" 

Sophia's shoulders dropped in a sigh. "I mean, it's a gorgeous dress... but-"

"It's not what you were looking for?" Jordan asked patiently.

"Well, it's just... I had this vision. Lena drew it for me one time, and-"

Lena pulled out a stunning sketch of a wedding gown, marked 'Sophia Dream Dress, age 22.' In the drawing, it was lace, much like the dress Sophia currently sported, but there were little cap-sleeves that I never would have thought looked good, but in Lena's drawing, looked so natural. There was a distictness about the dress that had Sophia written all over it.

"We have something like this!" She shouted, dashing to the back, Sophia at her heels. "Just got it in!" 

"Lena, I can't believe you remembered to bring that," Taylor said. "That was a stroke of genius!"

Lena blushed. "It's Sophia's wedding. It has to be perfect."

"Your drawing," I said, looking into Lena's eyes, "was perfect too." Her face lit up, and I could tell that was exactly what she'd wanted to hear. 

And then exactly what I wanted to see, I saw. Sophia's pure and endless happiness. She walked out in a dress almost indentical to Lena's drawing, already crying. Tears welled up in my eyes as she said it, the words I'd never expected to hear from her at 22, yet couldn't wait to hear. The words I'd always regretted not saying exactly because it secures the fairytale fate, not that I didn't have that part. I'd gotten lucky. yet there was Sophia, smiling at me through the mirror, shaking with bliss. And the words tumbled out. 

"This is it. This is the dress." 

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys! What's new? HAPPY FRIDAY, EASTER, AND PASSOVER!

I know, some of you might be disappointed I didn't do her graduation chapter, but I did her high school gradution, so I'm doing the twins' college graduation instead :) But guys... Sophia's growing up. 

I have a really weird relationship with Sophia. She's been in this story for so long, since way back when Baby Talk came out. And here she is, 22 years old and beautiful, getting her wedding dress. She's like my daughter, my best friend, my role model, and my OTP. I feel like she's real, and I'm getting so emotional about her marriage. She is getting a fairytale in a world of chaos, and it's what I've always dreamed of. This might sound really weird to some of you, but some of you will understand, those of you who've been through the ringer with her, with me. Think about it- she was attacked as a baby, got her sword with us, got claimed with us, almost died off Olympus,  died on us in Stone Heart, revived Logan in Hero's Daughter, and completely disobeyed properness by getting engaged at 17, and married at 22... It's like a slideshow of her life flashing before my eyes when I write these next few chapters. This is 87 parts after I started this book. She's been here for 76 chapters. I've grown up with her, and I am having the reaction I always have when a series ends. I get even more emtionally connected. 

Sorry about the rant, but you MUST understand. This is all insanity. Or maybe just my overly tired Friday self... who knows anymore, people? The sleep-deprevation apocalypse is so coming :D haha

QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER: What date should Sophia and Logan get married?

XOXOXOXO

Your best friend through the screen,

~PercyAnnabeth20owl