American Royalty III

Part 38: Percabeth, Forever

The morning sun rose gently over Camp Half-Blood, its warm light spilling across the lake and the cabins scattered across the camp. It was the perfect day for a wedding, with a light breeze stirring the air and the calm water reflecting the cloudless sky.

Inside the Big House, Annabeth's room was a flurry of activity as her bridesmaids helped her get ready. The room was decorated with delicate blue and gray drapes, matching the theme of the wedding. Her wedding dress hung by the window, its white fabric shimmering with an understated elegance that perfectly suited her.

Piper was carefully braiding Annabeth's golden hair into an intricate updo, her charm-speaking hands working like magic. Hazel, seated nearby, was sorting through a set of blue and gray flowers for Annabeth's bouquet, her practiced eye ensuring every bloom was perfect. Thalia leaned against the wall, watching the chaos with an amused smirk, while Valerie helped Annabeth into her dress.

"Stop fidgeting, Annabeth," Valerie said with a laugh. "You'll ruin the dress before we even get to the ceremony."

"I'm not fidgeting," Annabeth insisted, though her hands gave her away as she nervously smoothed down the fabric of her gown.

Kit, standing nearby with a calming presence, smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "You look incredible. Percy's not going to know what hit him."

Annabeth let out a small laugh, her nerves momentarily replaced by affection. "Thanks, Kit. I just—"

"You just need to take a deep breath," Piper interrupted gently, finishing the last touch on Annabeth's hair. "Today is perfect. He's going to lose his mind when he sees you."

There was a knock on the door, interrupting the moment. Kit stepped forward to answer, opening it to reveal Grover, who looked both excited and slightly out of breath.

"Hey, Kit," he said, smiling wide. "Percy's ready for the first look. You should come."

Kit glanced back at Annabeth, who nodded with a smile. "Go ahead," Annabeth said. "I'll be fine. Just make sure Percy keeps it together."

"I'll try," Kit replied with a wink, stepping out into the hallway with Grover.

Outside on the porch of the Big House, Sally, Paul, and Kit stood together, waiting. Kit's heart was racing, and she couldn't help but smile as she thought about the day's events. Sally adjusted the hem of her elegant blue dress, looking both proud and emotional, while Paul stood beside her, hands in his pockets, a soft smile on his face.

From the distance, they heard Grover call out, "Alright, you can turn around now!"

Kit turned first, her breath catching in her throat. Percy stood a few yards away, dressed in a sleek gray suit with a blue tie that matched the wedding's theme. His unruly black hair was slightly more tamed than usual, but his signature grin was firmly in place. His sea-green eyes, however, were filled with emotion.

Sally's hand flew to her mouth as she turned and saw her son. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took in the sight of him. Paul placed a gentle hand on her back, giving her a comforting smile as he looked at Percy with pride.

Percy's gaze shifted to Kit, and he grinned. "What do you think?" he asked, spreading his arms slightly. "Do I look like I'm ready to get married?"

Kit walked down the steps of the porch toward him, her smile widening. "You clean up pretty well, Kelp Head," she teased. Then, her voice softened. "You look perfect, Percy."

Sally joined them, her eyes still shining with tears. "I can't believe my baby boy is getting married," she said, brushing a hand over Percy's shoulder.