Beyond Tartarus (A Percabeth Fanfiction)

Chapter 40- Post-Wedding Stress

Percy

 "That was, awesome." Annabeth whispered as she leaned against our front door, throughly exhausted. 

 Despite the tired look now found in her eyes, she hadn't stopped smiling since we had left. I grinned at the sight of her.

 "It was awesome," I replied, wrapping my arm around her waist, and leading her upstairs.

 "But perhaps we should get a good night's sleep so we won't be suffering from a wedding hangover tomorrow." 

  She giggled, and nodded in reply. Her body began to waver in the air just before we made it to the stairs. She nearly lost her balance, I managed to catch her before she fell to the floor. My arms held her tightly, as I glanced worriedly at her body dangling in my arms.

 "Annabeth..." I exclaimed, my brow creasing with concern. She lay motionless for a few moments, until she looked up at me with a weary smile.

  "Sorry, I lost my footing. Felt kind of in a daze for a second." Her face told me otherwise, she looked more than dazed. She looked stunned, disoriented. I stared at her suspiciously, she simply looked at me with earnest fatigue.  I decided to let it go, and made my way up the stairs with Annabeth in my arms.

 I rested her on the bed, and headed into the washroom to clean myself off; brush my teeth, discard my wedding attire, and wash my face. When I returned, Annabeth lay sleeping soundly in our bed, her wedding dress and shoes strewn across the floor carelessly. I chuckled, and joined her. When she felt the movement of my body entering the bed, she opened her eyes.

  "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked her, grabbing her hand and stroking it lightly.

 She responded with a smile, "Yeah, no worries, I'm fine." Her voice still had a touch of dishonesty, but I was more concerned with staring at her.

 "Dude, you're freaking me out, quit staring. Do I have a booger or something?" Annabeth asked jokingly. We burst out laughing.

  "No, you're just really beautiful. I can't not stare at my beautiful wife." 

  "You're so cheesy, it's unbelievable! But it's one of the reasons why I love you." She giggled, and I pecked her lightly on the cheek.

 "It was great marrying you today." I said, as she glistened.

 "It was great marrying you today, too." Annabeth said, with a smile. She snuggled into my shoulder and kissed my jaw.

 "Goodnight, Seaweed Brain." She said, using her childhood nickname for me.

 "Goodnight, Wise Girl." I responded, smiling in the dark, finally closing my eyes and accepting slumber.

 Annabeth

  The nightmares had returned.

  Screaming, shouts. Blazing fire shot up into the sky. My house, I thought. Percy. My daughter. Cries, wailing. More screaming. It was my own.

  I entered the home, as it continued to overflow with deadly smoke, and hazardous, dark fire. Sirens, wailed eerily in the dark, the only light coming from our burning top floor. I screamed their names.

 "Percy! Sophia!" My pulse was aching, my heart pounding, echoing in my ears. More screaming. Fire trucks, screaming. Water was being shot upwards to douse the fire. I began to cry, my heart unsteady. Lights, flashing. Bodies running in the dark night, up onto the second floor.

  By now, the fire had been extinguished, small clouds of grey smoke rising into the air. I heard shouting, orders being declared back and forth. Someone placed their large, gloved hand on my trembling shoulder.