The Choosing (Percabeth AU)

30. The Funeral

(Click on the picture if you want to cry)

"Percy...?'' Annabeth called out as she entered
the stables. She was worried about him. She hadn't seen him after he ran from the room which housed Silena and Beckendorfs bodies.

They were engaged, Annabeth had realised after she noticed a huge diamond ring on Silena's finger. She felt a fresh pool of tears form in her eyes when she remembered she could never meet her friend again, or ever congratulate her.

But she pushed them aside. She had to find Percy. She knew he must be blaming himself for their deaths, he was very close to Beckendorf, he viewed him as an older brother.

"Ann...Annabeth?'' she heard. She followed the voice until she came upon a dishevelled Percy in Blackjacks stall.

He wiped his tears as he watched her enter and gave her a weak smile.

"How....how are you wise girl?'' he chocked out.

Annabeth felt her heart break. He was trying so hard to be strong for her.

"Don't even try Seaweed Brain," she sighed.

She watched as Percy cracked, slowly letting the sobs escape this throat as he crumbled to the floor again.

She went and sat down next to him , silent tears spilling from her eyes as well.

"Seaweed Brain," Annabeth whispered as she reached out to touch his tear- stricked face.

"If only I made them come with us.....If only I pushed harder....If only I...'' Percy croaked.

Annabeth put her finger on his lips, her tears were falling much faster now.

"They made their choice Percy....no one could have seen this coming," she lost it. She sobbed out loud as Percy moved to hold her, burying his face in her hair and crying as well.

Annabeth tried to hold him, turning her face towards his. But given their close proximity, her lips accidentally brushed against his.

She felt him suck in a breath, as she buried her face in his chest again.

"Sorry," she chocked out. He didnt reply, but pulled her closer into him. The light brush of his lips against hers was enough to send shivers up Annabeths spine. For a moment, I everything was okay. But it wasn't.

"Becky had proposed. Did you notice?" Percy said after a while of just holding each other.

Annabeth nodded against him. "I should have known Beckendorf was going to propose, seeing the look on his face after we interrupted. It was priceless"

Percy felt Annabeth laugh, the vibration echoed through him. He pulled back and lifted her chin with his finger, so she could look him in the eye.

Her tear-stricken face matched his own, along with her racing heartbeat.

In that moment, Percy remembered something beckendorf had told him.

"Remember Perce, once you find the person you love, kiss her and never let her go," Beckendorf had said after Percy returned from the stables after Malcolm's death,to get cleaned up.

Beckendorf had found him before he entered his room, wearing nothing but his "ANDROMEDA SHIP" nightshirt and his boxers.

''What?" Percy had asked, confused. Beckendorf just smiled sheepishly, and walked away.

At this moment, sitting there with Annabeth in his arms, Percy understood exactly what he'd meant.

He pulled her closer, and they just sat there, until it was time to freshen up for the Funeral.