You'll Learn to Love Me (Leo Valdez x OC)

Chapter 88: In Mourning

It was the holiday season back at Camp Half-Blood. True to his word, Leo travelled to Manhattan for the winter break to spend a few weeks with Percy Annabeth and the Jackson family. He stood at the front door, hesitating for a few seconds. His duffel bag that held his belongings felt unbearably heavy suddenly. He eventually snapped out of his daze and knocked on the door, hearing a bit of shouting before footsteps approached and Percy opened it, covered in flour.

"Hey man," Percy grinned.

"Did I come at a bad time?" Leo chuckled as he looked at his friend.

"Nah, my mom put Annabeth and I in charge of holiday baking this year. She told me I wasn't doing things right." Percy stepped aside. "Come on in."

Leo nodded with a smile as he stepped in, the door shutting behind him. "Where do you want me to put my stuff?"

"Just toss it in my room, I got an air mattress set up on the floor for you. You remember where it is?"

"Yeah, I got it. Thanks." Leo quickly dropped his things off in Percy's room, ignoring the slight pang in his heart when he passed by Laylana's old room, which Annabeth had been using. One quick glance inside told him that she hadn't moved a single thing of hers. It looked the same, save for Annabeth's laptop and her bag of clothes.

When Leo entered the kitchen, it was indeed chaos. Annabeth was trying to push Percy away, while he tried to shove flour in her face in retaliation for throwing flour at him. Sally was watching with her camera out, recording the couple while Paul was watching with an amused expression on his face. He noticed Leo entering the room first and smiled.

"Leo! You finally made it." He motioned to one of the empty chairs around the breakfast table. "Come, sit."

Leo took a seat as Sally stopped recording on her camera. She looked over at Leo and smiled softly. "How are you doing, Leo?"

"I've been good. Really busy, I'm sorry I haven't come out sooner." Leo forced the grin to stay on his face, but it was not hard for Percy and Annabeth to tell that he was lying. "What about you guys?"

"We've been good. Just... preparing for the baby and all." Sally rested a hand on her swollen stomach.

"Right, I meant to say congratulations. That's awesome."

"Thank you." Sally looked over at her son and Annabeth, who were still silently arguing. "Okay you two, give it a rest. Leo, are you much of a baker?"

"It's been a long time, but I am kind of crazy in the kitchen."

"Then get your ass over here, and help me!" Annabeth called to her friend, shoving Percy off of her again as he had wrapped his arms around her to cover her in flour. Leo chuckled and got up, taking Percy's spot in helping Annabeth.

The next two hours were spent with Percy leaning over their shoulders, occasionally stealing a bit of batter or icing to eat for himself. Leo felt a bit more at ease the longer he stayed there. Even as the next few days passed by, not once did anyone bring up the topic that loomed over everyone like a dark cloud.

Christmas came and went. The household celebrated with muted grief, Laylana's stocking still hung up despite it being empty. Sally kept a small table in the living room with various photos of Laylana with her friends and family in memory of her. Leo stayed a bit longer than he intended. Sally had insisted he stay past the new year, quietly explaining that they were going to be celebrating what would have been Laylana's 18th birthday. New Year went by, and soon it was the morning of Laylana's 18th birthday.

When Leo, Percy, and Annabeth walked into the kitchen that morning, both Sally and Paul were already awake, cooking breakfast. Leo recognized the smell immediately; French toast with scrambled eggs. One of Laylana's favourite breakfasts she would have. Sally later served it with a few grapes on the side, once again Laylana's favourite fruit. Leo tried to ignore the empty seat everyone purposely avoided and had been avoiding sitting in the whole time he was there. It was quiet, save for a few small comments about how the food was good. When they finished, Paul began cleaning up the plates as the others sat at the table still.