She was happy, and she was probably happier than he ever saw her when she was alive. He doesn't know if he should be pleased or disappointed about that.
In the end, he goes with pleased, because she's more than pleased.
She looks downright radiant.
Her hair is flowing lavishly as her body moves to a song only she knows the lyrics are, and her eyes are closed, but he could tell that they would smile as wide as her lips are opening up to let out a laugh. Her dress is rippling, like the waves of the sea she once loved so much, and his heart aches because he knows that.
He was the one who arranged her funeral. Then he let ashes blow with the sea breeze.
It's too late for him to stop, so now he's crying.
The one beside him pats his back, and the other sends the younger a smile, and he knows it's fake. But he hugs him, just in case.
When he lets go, he asks, "Are you okay?"
And Percy wants to say that no, he's not, because he loved that woman, he did, but he croaks out a shaky "Yes."
Nico has his hand now, and he doesn't want him to let go, not like her, not again. And the son of Hades is whispering, "She made it to Elysium, Perce. She's happy, you should be happy too. I know how it feels, Perce. I know, I'm here, you'll be okay." And Percy is holding on to him again, because he's already lost so much, he can't lose her.
But the thing is; he already has. And it hurts.
He hears Nico breathe, and he's saying, "Ready?" And Percy nods.
"Bye Mom," he says. But he wants to say "Come back."
