The Child of Hera

Chapter 35-Birdie

Birdie watched Luke leave. She was disappointed. She knew he had to go, but he was so warm and caring. He didn't want to go either. She could sense it.

She felt bad, though. She had told him not to go last night, and that resulted in him falling asleep. That was certainly something to be guilty over. She had forced him to stay.

She stood at the doorway as he disappeared into his cabin. Why did she trust him? Perhaps it was because no one else did. Everyone insisted he died a hero. They tried to be his friend, but a lot of them were hesitant. Especially Percy and Jason. Their camps had suffered because of his actions. She could sense their thoughts.

Maybe she trusted him because she needed someone to trust. She had never trusted anyone before. Other than Daddy, but still. That wasn't entirely true though. She trusted Annabeth, and Piper, and all of her other friends. So why did she feel different about him from the others.

He treated her differently than anyone else. He was more...hesitant? Careful? Kind? Birdie wasn't sure, but she felt differently with him too. Then she remembered a word that she hadn't heard in a long time.

Love.

Was that it? Did she love him? She treated him the same way that he treated her, so she didn't think anything was different. But she loved him. Yes that was it. She loved him. She tasted the word on her tongue.

"I love you."

The sound was so sweet. She decided that she rather liked that word. Actually, she liked it a lot.

"I love you, Luke."

This was the best word in existence! This feeling of longing for him was love!

Then she felt the wind knocked out of her. Her dream. It started normally. She was eight, and the house was burning. That's how it always started. But then, Daddy turned into Luke. She was in the hospital portion of camp. What was it called again? Anyway, Luke was lying unconscious on one of the beds. His face was pale. The little machine that measured his heartbeat showed a single line. She knew what it meant. She ran toward him, trying, in vain to save him. Someone held her back. She thought it was Will. Birdie had tears streaming down her face. Luke was blurry. He couldn't be dead. He couldn't.

Then she started to come back into reality. She didn't open her eyes, but she could feel Luke brushing her hair with his fingers, and rubbing her arm soothingly. He whispered things she couldn't hear. Slowly, she forgot the dream, and just felt the warmth of his body, and the beat of his heart. She drifted, praying that her sleep would not be plagued with more nightmares.

Birdie looked out of her doorway. The beautiful landscape of camp half blood met her eyes, but her mind was still occupied with the torture of Luke's still body. That would never happen, she decided. She wouldn't let it.

She then felt the hot tears run down her face, and realized she had been crying. She couldn't live without him. He was the one thing she relied on. She had never relied on anyone before, but now that she had, she knew she couldn't survive if he was taken away from her. Perhaps that was how Annabeth and Percy felt about each other. What a new concept, this...love.

No authors note.  Just...cry for this beautiful couple.  Adieu.