What Comes Next: A Percabeth Fanfiction

Chapter Fifteen

*WARNING: SAD SAD SAD CHAPTER (that means go grab your tissues! no, seriously you're gonna cry) ^this symbol^ means the line is a direct quote from Glee which I don't own! (FOX does)

-Percy's POV-

Today is the day I'd never thought I'd be alive to attend.

When Annabeth and I woke up in the morning, we didn't rush getting out of bed. We knew we needed to pause for a second before all the chaos this day will bring.

Eventually, I did loudly whisper to Annabeth, "Wise Girl, it's time to get up. I think you and I both know if we don't get up now we never will."

She sighed and climbed out of bed, yawned, and went to the bathroom to get ready. I went to the kitchen to get breakfast started, which is opposite our normal morning routine. I usually get ready first as Annabeth makes breakfast, and as I was thinking about it, I realized I don't know how to cook. However, I realized this as the eggs were in the pan scorching nervously. Uh-oh.

I heard Annabeth's footsteps coming down the hall and it started to stink. Like really, horribly, stink.

"Gods, Percy, is that rotten eggs?" Annabeth turned the corner into the kitchen and her face was priceless.

She ran to the stove, turned off the burner and then proceeded to open every window in the room.

"Styx, I'm sorry, I uh, guess I am a Seaweed Brain." I grinned sheepishly.

She wasn't angry like I thought she would be. She laughed. I did too, until I took a good look at her clothes. She was wearing a black dress obviously reserved for this occasion and this occasion only. [picture in media section]

I couldn't stand to start crying in front of her, so I quickly said, "I'm gonna go get ready. We can grab a bagel or something on the way."

20 minutes later, Annabeth and I were walking hand-in-hand towards the Amphitheater, finishing off bagels from the bakery (mine with blueberry filling of course). We had our readings prepared ahead of time.

On the stage area, the funeral arrangements were set up, complete with a tiny silver casket which made me almost get sick in the back of my throat. There was a podium with a microphone set up for all the readers at the ceremony. I really just hope I can get through this day without collapsing into a puddle of grief. I need to be strong for my family.

Once Annabeth and I got the signal that it was time for us to begin the procession, I quickly turned to her and kissed her. I tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear and whispered, "I love you, Wise Girl."

"I love you, too Seaweed Brain." Her eyes were glassy already.

Annabeth and I walked slowly down the aisle, trying not to look at anyone because we would just fall apart.

Chiron took to the podium first. He started with a speech about how she was taken from us much, much, much too soon. Honestly, my mind kind of blurred a lot of the words out; I just could not focus for more than a couple seconds.

Then it was Annabeth's turn to read, and I squeezed her hand to say good luck.

Annabeth cleared her throat and stepped up to the podium. She anxiously glanced at the silver container sitting center-stage. Then she began, "What's worse- sorrow or nothing, an emptiness in your heart of where that person is, or at least was? The creeping realization is just dawning on me. I used to think that after the Giant War, Percy and I would get to live our well-deserved normal lives. But it's the word think that's making me upset. My thoughts used to be private, inside my own head, but now inside my head is much too dark a place. I struggle to believe that there will be a day without this gnawing pain and I just get lost. That's why I need all of you so much right now. You have already shown so much support for me to get out of this bad state of mind and you'll never understand how grateful I am to you all. I-I really want to say I love you, baby girl, and that even though we have been blessed with another angel, you will never be replaced and I swear on the River Styx, never, ever be forgotten."