The Stories of Our Heroes

Hey

Alternate Percy-Sally Reunion after the Giant War

Percy's POV

"Stairs or elevator?" Annabeth asked me.

"Uhm... what?" I grunted, dragging my hands down my face.

"Okay, you need to get a hold of yourself," she commanded softly, pulling my hands away from my eyes.

"But... it's just... I... do you think..." I ended up just groaning at the end. Annabeth raised her eyebrows at me and sighed.

"Stairs it is. You need to walk." She dragged me towards the dreaded stairs, making me wish I'd pulled myself together enough to answer elevator. But the longer I could put this off the better,  I suppose.

I drug my feet for about five floors before Annabeth finally stopped.

"Percy, what's wrong? Aren't you excited to see your family?" She didn't exactly sound mad, just tired, maybe annoyed.

"Yes," I tried to answer confidently but it came out more like a question. Annabeth either didn't notice, though, or didn't care.

"So then what's wrong?"

I didn't respond for a little bit, just looked into my girlfriend's eyes. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what was wrong.

"I don't know... I guess I'm just... scared." I sat down on the concrete step, irritated with myself. I could go through Tartarus and fight a war but I couldn't go see my mom.

"Scared of what, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth's voice was gentle as she sat next to me. I leaned into her and put my head on her shoulder.

"That it won't be the same," I whispered, voice cracking. C'mon Percy!

She kissed the top of my head and rubbed my back. "Your mom still loves you the same she did last summer, Percy. And Paul, too. Nothing can change that."

"But what if I'm the one that's different? Losing my memory and Tartarus-"

"Doesn't matter," she finished my sentence. "I remember last winter how your mom just wanted to know you were okay and to hug you again. She missed you more than anything, and every second you spend here worrying that she won't be elated to see you leaves her to be in pain longer. I promise she doesn't care what's happened lately, she just wants to see you."

I took a deep breath. "You're probably right," I mumbled into her shoulder. I couldn't see her face but I knew she was smirking.

"You know I'm right. Now get up!" She hauled me to my feet, but this time I kept her pace up the stairs, holding her hand the whole time.

Before I knew it, we were standing in front of my parents' apartment door.

"So do I, like, knock or just go in?" I asked Annabeth. But before she could answer the elevator door dinged, signalling someone coming up. The doors opened, revealing two people talking and holding a pizza box. My voice didn't seem to work.

Paul saw us first and stopped mid-word. Mom whirled around. The pizza crashed to the floor, completely forgotten.

"Hey," was all I managed.

Mom rushed forward and pulled me into a suffocating hug. I numbly wrapped my arms around her as she stroked my hair. Neither of us cried or said anything. Just stood out in the hallway hugging. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Annabeth squeezing the life out of Paul as he smiled at her slightly, rubbing circles on her back.

After a while of this, Mom reached for Annabeth and pulled her into our embrace. I still felt like my soul was detached from my body, watching all of this happen instead of feeling it (Kane Chronicles, anyone?). Somehow Paul guided the three of us into the apartment, pizza rediscovered and set on the counter. Then he came and joined the group hug.

"It's okay, baby," Mom whispered in my ear. "You're home." And then I finally broke.

Everything hit me at once and I practically melted into my mom's embrace. She felt the change and pulled me closer. I sobbed onto her shoulder and I knew she was finally crying, too. Annabeth and Paul pulled away from us. Later when I asked Annabeth why, she said they felt like they were intruding. But to me it only felt right that they were there.

Before walking away, Paul ruffled my hair and muttered, "We missed you, son."

That only made me cry harder. I thought about the rest of my friends who didn't have a family to go home to. Jason's mom was gone and the Hunters' were scattered, Frank's mom was gone, Hazel's mom gone, Piper's dad didn't have any clue what happened this summer, Leo... Oh gods, Leo wouldn't being going home ever again, even if he had one. And Annabeth was here with me instead of going to her dad.

I squeezed my mom and choked out "I love you," over and over again.

"I love you, too, Percy. I love you, too."