When We Were 'Us'

I Should Probably Visit My Mom Too- Percy POV

I turned on the radio once we were on the road. I knew where this assisted living place was, my mom would volunteer there sometimes when I was little. She'd bring me with so we could avoid Gabe for a few hours.

Luke seemed a little shellshocked, which was unsurprising given the circumstances.

I checked the time. We'd been gone from camp for over an hour and a half, but no monster attacks.

"Annabeth, have you seen anything suspicious?" I asked into the backseat.

"What?" She had been staring out the window.

"Suspicious. Like someone following us or anything like that?"

"No. I haven't seen any monsters either." She said.

I frowned. "Keep a lookout. I've usually attracted one or two by now."

"Right." She nodded and went back to looking out the window.

We pulled into the parking lot of the assisted living home and I killed the engine, cutting off the song that was playing on the radio mid-sentence.

"I'll get Luke out of the car, why don't you go find out what room she's in." Annabeth suggested.

"Right. I'll wait for you guys in the lobby." I got out of the car and pocketed the keys. A dark van whizzed past right as I started to walk towards the building, forcing me to stop suddenly.

"Stupid driver." I muttered as I pushed open the front door.

"Hi, welcome to Hopkins and Danforth Assisted Living, are you here to visit someone?" The lady behind the front desk smiled brightly at me. Her name tag said Sara.

"Yes, my friends and I are here to see a lady named May Castellan. We were told she's here?" I leaned on the counter.

"Yes she is." Sara smiled at me.

"Great! Can we go see her?"

"One moment, I'll have one of the aides check to see if she's awake."

"That would be fantastic. Thank you." I smiled.

Sara nodded and picked up the phone next to her computer. As she tapped in the number I heard the door open behind me.

"Is she here?" Annabeth asked.

I nodded and tipped my head towards the receptionist. "Sara's seeing if she's up to receiving visitors."

"I'm sure she will." Annabeth put her hands on Luke's shoulders and squeezed them lightly.

"What if she doesn't recognize me?" He asked nervously.

"I'm sure she will." Annabeth promised.

"Lexie says May is awake and quite talkative today. She's on the third floor, room 24." Sara hung up the phone.

"Thank you." I told her again. She nodded.

Annabeth wheeled Luke over to the elevator and I followed, shuddering a little as I entered. I never really liked elevators and Tartarus hadn't helped with that.

We rode up in silence, Luke's breathing slightly less steady than Annabeth's and mine. My girlfriend's hand rested on her friend's shoulder, trying to give him some measure of comfort.

"Room 24." I reminded them as the door opened.

The aides we passed smiled at us. It was mostly quiet in the hallway, except for the old woman standing at the end who was swearing up a storm as she glared at one of the aides. It seemed he had brought her the wrong kind of juice and she was not happy.

"Ready, Luke?" Annabeth asked when we reached May's room.

He shook his head. "No, but do it anyway."

I opened the door.

May Castellan was sitting in a chair, staring out the window. Her white hair had been pulled into a simple bun on the back of her head.

"Oh, is that Alfie again? Don't listen to Dora, she's picky about everything." She said without looking back at us.

"Mom?" Luke croaked.

The old woman froze. Her wrinkled hands, resting on the sides of her chair, clenched until her knuckles practically glowed, they were so white.

"I only have one son." She said slowly. "He died."

Luke flinched.

"He didn't, Mrs. Castellan." Annabeth said slowly. "He's right here."

Slowly, she turned to look at us. At first her cloudy blue eyes were empty, but as they rested on Luke, recognition bloomed in them.

"Luke?" She whispered, like she didn't believe her vision.

Luke wheeled himself forward. "Mom."

It was as if a switch had clicked inside her. May Castellan stood and crossed the floor with surprising grace and speed for someone of her age. She threw her arms around Luke and cried into his shoulder. Annabeth and I could hear her saying "My boy, my little boy' over and over through her sobs.

"Mom, I wanted to say I'm sorry." Luke spoke softly.

"I forgave you years ago, baby." May promised him. She pulled away and smiled tearily at him. "You're so old now!"

As the two interacted, Annabeth leaned into me. "How long has it been since you talked to your mom?"

I bit my lip. "Too long....I should go see her."

"Why don't you drop Luke and I off at camp, then go see her. Chiron won't mind."

"That's a good idea." I put my arm around her. "Then again, what ideas of yours aren't good?"

She chuckled.

[A/N hello readers! I've finally kicked my writer's block out and took the ideas portion of my brain back. Enjoy emotions!]