The Littlest Demigod (Percy Jackson sister fanfic)

Eight: I'm Sorry

      I stop running and double over to catch my breath. I'm panting and wheezing and my head is spinning. My legs are shaky and it feels like my heart is going to burst out of my chest. I see a stream nearby and walk over to it.

      I sit down on the edge of the stream, with my feet in the water and instantly feel better. A lot better actually. My breathing is back to normal and my body feels better than it did before I started running. Hmm.....

      I realize that somewhere along the way I must have lost my flip flops because I am currently barefoot in the woods. Fun.... Not. I stand up and look around. All I can see in any direction is woods and I don't know which direction I came from. Left..? Yea left. Wait no. It was right. Definitely right. Wait but that way looks familiar..... ugh I'm lost.

      I hear a twig snap to my right and my head whips in that direction. I slowly back out of the stream and hide behind a large tree. I look up and see some low branches so I begin to climb. Once I reach a good height I peek around the tree to see what's coming. I let out a small gasp and tense up when I see a very run down Percy, but decide against showing myself just yet. At least I know which direction to go now.

     Percy falls to the ground and starts crying. He crawls over to the stream and suddenly all the water shoots out of it. Almost as if the water has its own mind, and it's very angry. Percy is drenched in water and he looks like a mess. His face is so muddy he looks like a teenage girl when it rains. Hehe... Lane this is not time to be joking. I scold myself in my head.

     A few seconds later another branch snaps, but this time it wasn't Percy. Both Percy and I whip our heads around to find Annabeth. Her clothes are dirty and she's heaving to get oxygen into her lungs, all while tears freely flow down her face. I stare at her and a tear escapes my eye, slowly rolling down my face and neck, but I'm too tired to care.

     Percy looks at Annabeth with hopeful and pleading eyes. She shakes her head and looks towards the ground. I start to climb down just as Annabeth slumps to the ground, exhaustion clear in the way she moves. She places her head in her hands. I can hear her soft sobs and cries as she prays to the gods for.... me?

      I stop climbing out of shock. She's is praying for me to come home?  I climb down faster. I try not to make any sound as I walk over to her, to avoid scaring her. I don't want her to go all judo-Annabeth on me because she thinks I'm a monster.

     I lightly tap Annabeth on the shoulder and she freezes. Her head slowly lifts up to me and her eyes go wide in shock and realization. I open my mouth to say something, but before I know it, I'm wrapped in Annabeth's embrace. Sobs wrack my entire body, as I feel Percy fall into the hug, and engulf me and Annabeth in his arms.

     I pull back slightly and look up into Annabeth's eyes. They're filled with relief and concern. The top of my swimsuit is sticking to me from the tears, and my entire body is shivering due to the lack of clothing, in addition to the cool night. I look down at my lap, tears falling onto my bare, freezing legs. I'm suddenly very interested in the pattern on my swimsuit.

      Annabeth gently places two fingers under my chin, and lifts my head so my eyes meet hers. She leans in and places a soft kiss on my forehead, lingering there for a second, and breathes out a sigh of relief. She pulls away and looks into my tear filled eyes, full of regret. Annabeth closes her eyes, and I look over at Percy.

     Tears are running down Percy's face, and he pulls me into a tight hug. I'm sitting on his lap and one of his arms is wrapped around my waist supporting me, while the other firmly, but comfortingly, holds my head against his chest. He gently strokes my hair as I listen to the steady sound of his heartbeat. I feel him place a kiss in the top of my head, causing me to cuddle into him further. Percy makes gentle shushing noise, attempting to calm my cries.

     My body eventually relaxes into him, bringing on intense cold and shivering. Percy realizes that I'm shaking, and leans back, starting to take his t-shirt off.

     "No, P-Percy..." I begin protesting, "You really d-don't have t-to-"

     "Shhh," He says, cutting me off. He then stands up, resting me on his hip and taking me with him, and gently pulls his shirt over my head. I slip my arms through the designated holes and lean my head on Percy's shoulder. Annabeth stands up and walks over to us, stroking my hair. Closing my eyes, I breathe in the scent of salty seawater and lemons.

     I wrap my legs around Percy's waist, now completely facing him, and look into his eyes. He smiles at me and my eyes begin to water.

     "I... I'm sorry. I just- I can't- I didn't- I'm so sorry.." I say to him, my silent tears gradually escalating into soft sobs the more I speak.

     "Lane," Percy begins, grabbing my attention. I look up at him and he begins again "Do not be sorry. We- me and Annabeth- we're just glad that you're safe with us now, alright Princess? Nothing to be sorry for, we'll talk about this later. But right now, we need to get you to sleep, I bet you're tired.

     Percy begins walking towards what I assume is camp, Annabeth in tow, holding onto his hand that's not supporting me. I rest my chin on Percy's shoulder, staring back at Annabeth.

     When we reach the camp, everyone stares, wide eyed, but no one says a word. I whimper softly and bury my face in Percy's neck. He notices and tightens his grip on me, making a 'shh' sound in my ear to calm me down. When we reach Percy's cabin, Annabeth opens and closes the door, but she doesn't leave. Instead, she pushes two of the bunk beds together, while Percy helps to change and exhausted me into soft pjs.

     Once the bed is ready, and everyone is in comfortable clothes, we all lay down. Annabeth is to my right, between me and the wall, while Percy is on my left. Percy scotches closer, sandwiching me between him and Annabeth. He wraps his arms around the both of us. After giving Annabeth a quick peck on the lips, Percy kisses my forehead and whispers a soft "Good night, baby girl."

I fall asleep to the lulling sound of Percy's heartbeat, and the smell of the sea drifting through the air.    

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A/N: GUYS! I am sososososososoooooo sorry that it has taken me this long to update. Forgive me? I'm going to try to update once a week from now on. Love you all <3