Reunited

He staggered up the stairs, exhausted. It had been months - about three quarters of a year - since he ascended the stairs, since he's been home.

They had only gotten back hours ago from Greece. In those few hours, he and his friends had to help clean up camp and help burn burial shrouds for their friends. There were many casualties, but their lives were not lost in vain. Gaea had been defeated.

As soon as Chiron gave his okay, The Savior of Olympus had left the safety of camp- not likely to be attacked as Gaea had been defeated - and entered the mortal world. He grabbed a taxi, his leg bouncing up and down, his fingers tapping his leg the whole time.

Getting out of the taxi, he paused in front of the building, nervous. He almost wished he had taking up Annabeth's offer of joining him, but this was his moment. The moment he returned home. Alive.

And has he reached the door, he not. On the other side of the door, he heard a familiar voice saying: "I'll be right there!" Then, the door flung open.

There, in front of Percy, was his mother.

"Percy! Oh my baby!" Sally cried out as she hugged her son, both of them with tears in their eyes.

Paul came in then, a smile appearing on his face as he saw mother and son reunited after months apart.

After a few minutes he spoke up. "Why not invite him in? There is a lot to catch up on."

-/-

After talking, Sally directed Percy to the dining room. He sat there as his mother disappeared into the kitchen.

She came out moments later with a blue cake, the numbers one and seven present in the form of candles. "Happy birthday sweetheart," she spoke as she set the cake on the table. "I am glad you're home."

He smiled up at her, eyes sparkling like they did when he was a young boy. "I'm glad I'm home, too."