Percy POV
Two years. It had been two years since I had been back in the United States. Two years since I had spoken to or seen any of my family. Two years since I had seen my wife, the love of my life.
I was coming back from deployment. I worked in special operations in the army. My division had quickly risen to the top and we were given the most classified cases. Due to that, we weren't allowed to have any contact with our loved ones during employment. For our safety and theirs.
All this had led to the past two years. The last I had spoken to my wife; I would be gone a year at most. That was until we lost one of our own, my best friend Jason Grace, in an operation gone bad. All of us had promised to find out who did it so it would never happen again. I had sent my wife a small video message, knowing if I actually told her over the phone, I would be staying longer her voice would break me and I'd be on the next plane back home.
I shut my eyes as we began to descend to the ground. I gripped the sides of my seats. I hated planes with a passion, but this was the only way to get back to New York City.
"Dude, relax," my friend and comrade Leo clapped me on the shoulder. "What does Annabeth always call you? Seaweed brain? Stop thinking so much." I smirked and opened my eyes as I hit him lightly.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever man," but I smiled at the thought I was so close to seeing my wife again.
"I still don't understand why you didn't call her," Frank said next to me.
"Like I said, if I heard her voice, I would break. The next time I see her, I want to be holding her, kissing her. Plus, it would be a nice surprise," I finished.
"Sure, and then after the kissing, I'm sure there will be some other stuff too," Leo wiggled his eyebrows.
This time, Frank hit him for me. "We need to get you a girlfriend."
"Speaking of girlfriends, is Hazel meeting you at the airport?" I asked.
Frank blushed. Hazel and he had only been dating a few months when he left for our mission. It was hard enough on a relationship to leave when you were married, Annabeth and I had technically been married for four now even though I had been gone for half of those, but dating was a different story. Yet, it seems that Hazel dated casually but had been waiting back on Frank.
"Yes," he muttered softly now his ears turning red.
"Awe, my two best friends are both getting some tonight and I have no one," Leo pouted.
I rolled my eyes. "Come on. We all know you are going to go to a bar tonight and overexaggerate our stories to make it seem like you are a hero and take a girl home."
"Touché," Leo replied.
The speakers overhead buzzed. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. We have now arrived at JFK airport in New York City. We hope you enjoyed your flight and see you again soon."
I let out a sigh of relief. "Seriously, you need to get over your fear of airplanes," Leo muttered.
"They are terrifying!" I defended.
Frank rolled his eyes at our bantering as he stood up to grab our bags from overhead. "Well, it's over now."
People started to deplane, and I stood up behind him. "And now we're home."
We hurried off and nodded at the many who thanked us for our service. All I wanted to do was go home and see my wife. I could practically picture her stormy grey eyes and princess blonde hair.
We reached baggage claim and Frank's eyes lit up when he saw who I could only assume to be Hazel. Frank and I hadn't met until deployment, while Leo, Jason, and I had known each other before. But Frank had turned into a good friend and I was glad he had happiness. Leo and I laughed as he ran up to her and picked her up and spun her in a circle.
My heart ached a little. Maybe I should've called Annabeth, I thought thinking about our could've been reunion here. But I know my wife, she would want something more private. We walked over.
"And you must be Hazel, I'm Percy," I stuck my hand out and she shook my hand.
"And I'm Leo," he followed suit.
"It's nice to meet you. Thank you for keeping him safe over there," she said with his arm slung around her shoulders.
I smiled. "I'm pretty sure it's the other way around. I would love to get you to know you, my wife and I would love to have you over some time."
"Your wife? Is she here?" she asked.
I shook my head. "I thought privacy would be better. Speaking of, I'll need to get going."
Leo clapped my shoulder. "Call me when you get a chance. After, you know," he wiggled his eyebrows and the three of us also blushed. He threw his arms up in defeat. "They're married, what do you expect?"
"I will," I responded once I gained my composure. "Then we'll have to make a time to go see Piper and Thalia," I gulped. Jason's girlfriend and his half-sister. We hadn't gotten a chance to come home for the funeral, but I know they would like to see us.
Leo nodded. "Will do. Now go home to your wife!" He pushed me forward and I laughed as I rushed out to my waiting Uber.
The car ride back was quiet, but pleasant. New York was actually experiencing a sunny spring day which was rare. I took in all of my surroundings. It took us an hour to get to my house. Right before I was deployed again, Annabeth and I had bought our first home in a suburb right outside the city. I hadn't gotten to spend much time in it, but wherever Annabeth was felt like home to me.
We pulled up into my neighborhood and my heart leapt when I saw my house. It did so even more when I saw my mother's car parked in our driveway. She must be visiting Annabeth. Maybe I would get a reunion with my wife and my mom. That did mean it needed to be more PG though…
I grabbed my bag and practically ran to my house. I took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. There was a pregnant pause before I heard footsteps.
"Coming," I heard my wife yell. My god, her voice. I stepped back as the door swung open. "Who?" but then her hands flung to her mouth when she saw who was standing before her. Tears immediately sprung to her eyes. "Percy," she trailed off and I swooped her into my arms walking into the house. I shut the door with my leg and gave her a passionate kiss.
This was one of the best moments of my life, next to marrying this woman. I missed her so much, and to have her in my arms again felt like a miracle. It was moments later that she pulled away to look me in the eyes.
"Annabeth," I practically moaned. But then she did something that surprised me. She raised her right hand and slapped me across the face. I let out a small gasp, not from pain, but surprise.
"Oh my god, Percy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean," she began but I just took her palm and kissed it.
"It's okay," I laughed tears starting to form in my eyes. "I've been gone a while, more than I thought. You can be mad."
Tears streamed down her face. "Percy, it's not that. It is, but," she stopped when my mom came to the door.
"Percy," my mom sobbed out.
I stepped away from my wife to engulf my mother in a huge hug. "Hey mom," I managed to choke out.
She stepped back and hit me lightly. "You've been gone for two years and the best I get is a "hey mom"?"
I threw my hands up in defense. "Why do I keep getting hit?"
My mom's smile dropped. "We just missed you, honey," she glanced over at Annabeth. "Some more than others."
"Love," I let it drop off my tongue as I turned to Annabeth again.
She shook her head and kissed me again. "It doesn't matter anymore, you're back. I just wish you would have told us; I would have cleaned up."
"I just need you," I said kissing her again. Gosh, I would never get tired of kissing her. Yet, there was something in the air as well. Annabeth shot an almost pleading look at my mom. "Is everything alright?" I asked scrunching my eyebrows.
"I'll stay with him, go," my mom nodded.
Annabeth pulled away from my arms. "I'll be right back Seaweed Brain," my heart melted when she used my nickname. She rushed off upstairs and I stood still with my eyebrows scrunched.
"Where's she going?" I asked. I had only been back for five minutes and she needed space?
My mom grabbed my arm. "Percy, come sit down." She led me to the couch.
"Mom," I gulped. A million thoughts were rushing through my head. A lot could change in two years, was Annabeth alright? "Everything's okay, right? Annabeth is," my mom squeezed my hand.
"Just a minute. Just remember to breathe Percy," my mom let out a smile.
Just then, my wife began to descend down the stairs and the world as I knew it dropped out underneath me. I should have noticed it before. The fireplaces sharp edges were covered up. There was a bright colored box in the corner.
Annabeth walked down the stairs with a blonde-hair baby. Well, not quite a baby anymore. The child rested against my wife's chest as Annabeth held her against her hip. Now it was my turn to cover my mouth tears openly flowing. I didn't even have to ask.
"Annabeth," there were no words.
She sat down next to me and the child turned towards me. She had my green eyes. "Percy, this is our daughter," Annabeth said slowly and I'm pretty sure all the air had been pushed out of my lungs.
"What, how? Annabeth," I still couldn't talk as the little girl continued to stare up at me from my wife's lap with her curious eyes.
"I found out I was pregnant a week after you left," Annabeth's lips quivered.
"Love," I said. "You were getting sick before I left. I thought it was because you were nervous about me leaving," I shook my head.
"I did too, but once you left, I realized how late I was," she shook. "I just wished I would have checked a week earlier."
"My god, Annabeth," I couldn't take my eyes off of that little girl. "You must hate me."
She let out a laugh between her tears. "I don't hate you; I love you. Aria is living proof of that."
"Aria?" I gulped and cautiously brought my hand out to the little girl. My daughter.
Aria quickly snatched my finger. I held back a sob. The little girl seemed to approach me cautiously as well. She turned back to Annabeth as if asking for permission. My wife kissed our daughter's head and she took that as an okay. She crawled from Annabeth's lap into mine as I held my breath.
"Hey, Aria, I'm your dad," I smiled.
She cocked her head, but then something changed. Her small face scrunched up and she began to cry. Her face grew red and I quickly dropped my arm.
"Mama," she called out and turned back to Annabeth. My wife swooped her up and began to coo at her.
"Shh, sweetie. That's your daddy," she mumbled against our daughter's hair.
"Did I do something wrong?" I asked shaking.
"Oh, honey," I forgot my mom was still here as she muttered behind us.
"No, Aria is just sometimes scared of strangers," she said.
The room held silent as I took a sharp intake of breath. Even Aria muddled her cries sensing her mother's tenseness. Because that was what I was to her, a stranger. This little girl was mine, but all I had done at this point a sperm donor could do. She didn't know me.
I stood up and Annabeth tried to recover. "Percy, that's not what I meant."
I shook my head. "No, you're right. She doesn't know, I'm a stranger to her." I started to shake violently.
"Honey," Annabeth stood up with Aria on her hip and touch my cheek and I jerked back.
"I just," I gulped and ran towards the door. "I just need some air," I said before running out into the road with Annabeth calling behind me.
My heart and mind were racing. Only a few hours ago I was coming home to see my wife, little did I know it was to see my wife and kid. Kid. My daughter. I had a daughter that I didn't even know about for two years.
I stopped running when I realized how far I had gone. I made it into a forest near our house by a small pond. Annabeth and I had discovered it on an exploring adventure we'd had when we first moved it. It had quickly become my favorite spot. I sighed and sat down putting my head in my hands and began to sob.
My wife. My amazing, intelligent, beautiful, strong wife. She had been pregnant all alone. I left her all alone when she was pregnant. I could imagine her. Her taking a pregnancy test and finding out. Days over the toilet vomiting with morning sickness. Her belly growing swollen from our child growing in there. I would have been with her at everything.
And the birth. That was something I didn't want to imagine. Her in pain, her blonde hair soaked with sweat and still, all alone. Husbands were supposed to be in there with their wives and I hadn't. I missed the birth of our first child, and that was something I could never get back.
Aria. God. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. I know her eyes were mine, but her stare was all her mother's. I would have changed every diaper, shushed every cry, kissed all the pain away. Yet, Annabeth had done that all on her own and my daughter only knew me as a stranger.
Sobs continued to wrack my body when I heard soft footsteps in the woods beside me. I lifted my head up slightly and saw the sun setting on the horizon. I had been out for longer than I realized.
"Percy," Annabeth's tone was gentle.
I rested my head on my knees curled up as she approached. "Where's," I gulped, "where's Aria?"
Annabeth placed her hands on the ground as she sat next to me. "Your mom took her. I'll go get her in the morning. She thought it would be good for us to have the time to talk."
Talk. Talk about what? How I was the worst human being ever? How I'm a stranger to my child? How I'm probably a stranger to my wife now.
She sighed and leaned her head against my shoulder. I pulled away. "You don't need me. You don't want me."
She rolled her eyes and proceeded to lift my arm up and snuggle into my chest even more. "Perseus Jackson, I know it's been two years, so you might need some reminding. I'm your wife, but you never get to tell me what to do." She sighed and said barely audible. "And I'll always want you."
A smile lifted on my face. "Sure." She ran her fingers up and down the front of my shirt and it made me shiver. "I'm sorry." I finally let out.
She kissed my chest through my shirt. "For what?"
I carefully brought my hand up and ran my fingers through her hair. "For leaving. For leaving you alone."
"Percy," she sat up and turned around practically straddling me, but this was nothing sexual in nature. She took my head in her hands and stared at me. "You have nothing to apologize for."
I gulped. "I do. If I had known," but all I got was a raised eyebrow in response.
"You would have what? Stayed?" I nodded slowly. "Percy, is what you did over there important? Did you help people? Save them?" Although I couldn't go into detail, Annabeth was smart and realized how important my position was after the first time I went over, before we were even married. I nodded. She kissed my nose. "That's all we need. You didn't know it, but you were protecting Aria and me from over there."
I placed my hand over hers and softly began to cry. "How are you so amazing?"
She smiled lightly. "I've had all the time to be mad and that dissolved to just missing you."
"So you were mad," I quickly countered.
She sighed. "Of course, I was Percy. I was mad that you left even though I knew you needed to. When I was pregnant, I resented you sometimes, but then I remembered how good and loyal you were and I couldn't stay mad," tears brimmed her eyes as well. "And god, when Aria was born, she has your eyes and smile and is too much like you. All I wanted was for you to come home."
My lip quivered. "Maybe I shouldn't have. If I had," but she cut me off with a kiss.
"Perseus Jackson, we are not going through this again, okay?" She tightened her grip on me. She was referring to the first time I had come back. We were only dating at the time, but I had pulled away, hard and gone to a dark place. Annabeth was the only thing that kept me sane, and even she I pushed away. It took us months to get back to where we were before I left. "Okay?" she pushed.
I nodded. "Okay."
"Good," she dropped her arms. "Aria needs her father."
"But she doesn't. Annabeth, you're so good with her," I said trailing my knuckles up and down her arms.
"She does," Annabeth reiterated. "I've been trying my hardest, but I'm only her mother. She'll love you."
"Will," my Adam's apple bobbed. "She hates me."
She rolled her eyes. "She's a baby Percy."
"She's not quite a baby anymore," I replied.
"No, but these are the times she'll remember. She'll warm up to you, I know she will. You two are too much alike."
I smirked. "So, she's a trouble maker then?"
She laughed. "And she's only one." I stared into my wife's eyes and she smiled again. "I really did miss you. I'm sorry for dropping this on you right after you got back, it's not fair."
Now it was my turn to kiss the tip of her nose. "Let's just agree we haven't been being fair to each other, but let's make it up."
She nodded and nuzzled into my neck as she shivered slightly. "And as much as I love this spot, it's getting kind of cold," I chuckled. "How about we go home? I'll make something for dinner, and you can take a shower."
I nipped her ear. "Or we can skip dinner and we can take a shower." I couldn't see her face but could tell it was red.
"Percy," she sighed.
I threw my hands up in surrender. "Okay, I'll agree to some food."
She perked up. "Okay, let's go," and practically dragged me back to our home.
Annabeth went to making dinner and I hopped into the shower quickly. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I was starving and missed American food. Even if my wife was cooking it.
I wrapped a towel around my waist and ventured into our bedroom. The décor was simple but there had been some additions since I last left. My breath hitched when I saw the photo collage on the far wall. I walked over in a trance.
It was pictures of my beautiful wife, but very pregnant. These photos were professionally done but I had no idea who convinced my wife to do them. They were of her mostly bare, her swollen stomach the centerpiece of it all. In the middle of the pictures was a small sonogram and "baby Jackson" written on it.
"Piper convinced me to get them. She said you would like it," Annabeth said from our doorway.
I was still in a trance when she walked up behind me. "Annabeth, you're beautiful. I know I tell you that a lot, but, wow."
She laughed lightly. "So, Piper was right?"
I nodded. "Very."
I turned around to my wife and she let out a small gasp. For a moment I forgot that I wasn't wearing a shirt. Tears sprung to her eyes, a theme of the day.
"Percy," her voice shook as she pressed her hand to my bare chest. "These weren't there before." She was talking about my scars. She knew all my old ones, but these past two years brought in new ones. Worse ones.
"Things got bad," I said stoic. I always tried to open up to my wife, but some things were left better unsaid.
"Percy," Annabeth tried to coax it out of me.
"Someday, just not today. Please," I begged.
She nodded but still began to kiss my scars. My eyes fluttered with each of her kisses. She was kissing all the pain away. She stood up and something in her eyes grew darker. I hissed in response. Dinner was long forgotten.
Soon, I pushed Annabeth against the wall as she yanked the towel away from me. She moaned when she saw me naked again for the first time in two years. I loved the way my wife looked at me, but I couldn't be the only one naked.
I swept my fingers under her shirt and started to pull it off when she placed her hands on my chest panting. "Wait," she said.
I dropped my arms. "Sorry, it's been so long. Did I do something wrong?"
"No, it's just." She shut her eyes tight. "I'll just take care of you then we can go eat." She started to kneel down, but I held her up.
"Annabeth, the only thing I want to do is make love to you," I said, and she blushed but didn't move. "Love, what's wrong?"
"It's stupid, really," she muttered.
I lifted her chin. "Annabeth."
She gulped at my tone. "It's just, you haven't seen me in two years. I'm not the same. I've had a kid. I've gained weight and I can't get rid of those stupid stretch marks, and," I cut her off with a kiss.
"Do you really think I care about that?" I growled. "Marks from carrying our child in you. Annabeth, you had my daughter." I said and reached my fingers under her shirt. "You carried my daughter in you for nine months and brought her into this world. I think you're the sexiest woman alive, nothing could stop me from believing that. You love me with my scars, I love you with yours." She gulped saying nothing. "Can I continue now? Can I show you how much I really missed you and loved you?"
"Yes," she responded softly.
"Good."
The next morning, I woke up to my wife naked in bed with me, something I had waited two years for. The air smelled of sex and I loved it. My wife slept soundly next to me, her blonde curls resting against the pillow. I smiled, just watching her sleep.
A few minutes later, she opened one of her eyes. "How long have you been creepily watching me sleep?"
I chuckled. "Only a few minutes. Are you doing okay?" I asked referring to our countless rounds of sex the night before. I don't think we'd done that much since our honeymoon.
Annabeth nodded but then winced and guilt washed over me. She saw my expression change and kissed me reassuring me she was alright. "I'm just a little sore, that's all. I'll just go shower and get Aria." She started to stand up and saw she was still in a little discomfort. I pushed her down.
"How about you relax, and I'll go get Aria?" I asked.
"That," sighed and smiled. "That would actually be really nice. Just take my car, Aria's car seat is in the back. Your mom can show you how to strap her in." I gave her a quick kiss before showering. I ran out and put on some clothes before heading over to my mom's house.
I knocked on the door and my mom greeted me with a wide smile. "Percy, what a surprise. I was expecting Annabeth."
"I thought it would be nice for her to sleep in," I said trying to hide the fact of our sex-laden night. I mean, we were married and had a daughter, but I didn't need to be sharing these facts with my mother.
I heard a gasp behind my mother and saw my younger sister, Estelle. A while back my mom had gotten remarried to my stepdad, Paul. He was amazing, but I was sixteen when I found out my mom was pregnant again. I absolutely adored my little sister, but it was times like these that I wish I spent more time with my family.
"Squirt, you've gotten bigger," I said picking her up and spinning her in a circle.
She giggled as I set her down. "I've missed you."
My smile softened, "I missed you too."
She let out another small gasp when I heard a light squeal come from the living room. She rushed over and picked up Aria. My mom and I followed her in to where she was cooing at my daughter as Paul sat on the couch.
"Glad to have you back," he smiled at me.
"Glad to be back," I said but not really looking at him, just looking at my daughter.
He laughed. "You got a big surprise when you got back, huh?"
I laughed. "That's a little bit of an understatement."
"Shh, Aria, Auntie 'Stelle has you," she smiled as she calmed her down. I came over and cautiously approached my daughter, hoping to avoid the cries of yesterday. "Aria that's your daddy!" She said. "I know you haven't known him that long, but I have, he's my big brother. He helped take care of me when I was a baby, so I know he'll be so good with you. He'll love you, and play with you, he even helped change my dirty diapers!" I let out a laugh.
Aria stared up expectantly at her aunt before Estelle practically threw her in my arms. Both Paul and my mom held their breathes as I held my daughter. I'm sure my mom relayed the day before to my stepfather. I even held my breath, but I tried not to show it.
"Guys, relax." I said almost trying to convince myself. I was her father; I could do this. I coughed. "Does she have anything I need to bring back? And, uh, Annabeth said you could help me figure out her car seat."
My mom laughed. "I have all her things in this bag," she said and helped me swing it over my arm. Gosh, how had Annabeth managed this all by herself? "And yes, I'll help you with the car seat. The first time Annabeth tried this one, she practically threw it on the ground trying to figure it out before she asked for help." That was my wife, stubborn.
I followed my mom out to the car and watched with ultimate focus what she was doing. She let out a laugh as I helped her finish buckling Aria in. I shut the door softly before going up to the front. I started the car but didn't move. My mom knocked on my window and I rolled it down.
"Percy, you'll be alright. You have Annabeth and Aria, but just remember to take care of yourself too. Annabeth will understand if you need a break," my mom said referring to the last time I came back from fighting.
I nodded and gulped. "How, how am I supposed to drive?" I asked and my mom quirked an eyebrow. "My daughter is in the back, what if something happens?"
My mom smiled. "Every new parent has that fear. Relax, just drive." I nodded and put the car in reverse, but I still don't think I had ever driven so careful in my entire life.
Aria was an angel, until we made it back to our neighborhood. I was probably five minutes from home when she let out a shrill cry. I glanced in the mirror and she was bright red and crying.
"Aria, baby," I muttered and debated on pulling over to calm her down but decided against it. I pulled into our driveway and barely remembered to put the car in park before I went back to help my baby girl.
I tried to calm her down, but I couldn't figure out that stupid car seat. I spent minutes trying to get her out while her cries only grew. I jumped when Annabeth placed a hand on my back, and I hit the ceiling of the car.
"Oh, sorry," she muttered as I crawled out. "Here, let me," she said as she, in one second, undid Aria's car seat and pulled her into her arms. "Shh," she calmed Aria as I followed her inside. "It's okay baby. Your daddy's just learning." We got inside and I was about to talk when Annabeth continued to speak. "You don't remember it, but when you were born, I had no idea what I was doing, I still don't. Your dad was off saving the world," I scoffed a little, "so, it'll take him some time to catch up. Just let him, like you let me." Annabeth gave me a smile as Aria calmed down.
"Annabeth," I gulped.
She kissed my cheek. "Come on, I made some breakfast. Let's eat as a family."
Family. This new life would take some getting used to.
Thank you all for reading! I'm trying something new by branching out into an alternate universe and we'll see how it goes! Please let me know what you think by reading a review and checking out my other stories as well! Hope you enjoyed!