Comfort of the Hearth

This took a lot longer than I thought it would. Well, this is my second fan fiction, even though I didn't finish my first one yet. I was looking around on fan fiction when I saw that there were practically no story with Hestia and Percy together so I decided to write my own. This story takes place after the Giant War. The break up part is a little bit on the cliché side, but the story itself isn't. If you feel neutral by the end of this chapter, give me three more chapters to change your mind.

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO, nor will I ever own PJO.

Percy PoV

I ripped riptide out of the last hell hound. I started walking towards the little girl in the middle. She looks about six years old. Her long blond hair went all the way to her lower back. "Don't come any closer, get away from me." The little girls voice was probably hoarse from yelling earlier. I crouched down to her height.

"Hey, shhhh... I won't hurt you I promise."I coaxed. Her grey eyes bore into me in a way that brought some painful memories back. It feels like she was looking into my soul and saw all of me. I think I know who her godly parent, or should I say mother, is. I would recognize her siblings anywhere.

"Pinky promise?" She moved a little closer to me, but not much.

"Pinky promise. What's your name?" I tried to put on a smile, and I push my pinky towards her, and she hooked hers to mine. Then, she slowly scoots towards me.

"Emily." She said in a soft broken voice, that broke my heart. I finally get a close look at her and saw how hurt she was. Part of her arm was so torn that you could see her muscle tissues. Her clothes were ripped. "Do you trust me?" She shook her head 'no'. I chuckled and rephrased my question. "Do you want me to make the pain go away?" This time she nodded her head. "Give me your hand. I promise you won't regret it. This is going to pinch a little." I took out a bottle of sea water, not just any sea water. Sea water blessed by my father. I poured some of it onto her head. I then used my powers to spread the water throughout her whole body to heal her. At first, she was a little shocked. Then she reached up and gave me a hug.

"Thank you."

"Do you trust me now?" I smirked, and I was so sure of her answer.

"No." I almost fell on my butt and fainted when she said that, just almost.

"What? Why not?" I whined. I know what is a hero of Olympus doing whining. I guess it's worth it though, because Emily smiled a little.

"How can you trust someone whose name you don't even know?"

"Per... you can call me Samson." I almost slipped. I hope she doesn't notice. (A/N: Look up the story of Samson, then you'll understand why I chose this name.)

"And you question why I don't trust you. You won't even tell me your real name. How can you expect me to trust you?" She was a little angry, now. Wow, she does not think like a six year old.

"I'm sorry, my old identity just brings out too much pain. But, if you must know, my old name is Percy Jackson, but you can't tell anyone. Pinkie promise?"

"What if I don't promise and go around telling everyone?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Do you really think I'd let you leave if you don't promise?" I smirked at her shocked expression. "And it doesn't matter if you go around shouting that out.
You have to tell the right people. Promise?" She huffed.

"Promise." We hooked our pinkies. "Now, you wanna tell me what's going on?" I looked at her confused. "Duh, the giant dogs and one eyed monsters." I told her about the whole thing, and she took it rather lightly. "I figured something like that." She reminds me so much of her that it brings back the pain again. It's been four whole years and I still can't forget her.

"Come on, I'll take you to camp."

Camp?"

"For kids like us. You'll be safe there."

"Will you also be there?"

"No." The scar was still fresh. I can't see her again. It just might be enough to break me.

"Why not?" I hesitated a little.

"I was... in love... with someone there, but that someone broke my heart."

"You shouldn't let one person ruin it for the rest of us. Please go, for me." She put on her puppy dog face and pouted. I was so close to giving in, then I shook my head. I have to make it up to her

"Hypocrite. Don't let one girl ruin it for you. Go to camp and have fun the people there are really nice. There are two other older kids that know about me. Their names are Nico Di Angelo and Thalia Grace." I hand her a bag of drachma. "Here take this. The kids at camp will tell you how to use this."

"Will you visit?"

"Not any time soon." She looked at me with such sadness and it broke my heartto see her like that. I looked down in shame. "It's getting dark, so why don't we go tomorrow?" I set up the tent and got Emily her favorite food. After we ate, I took her to bed.

I woke up, and my vision was still a little blurry. I saw a pair of grey eyes looking intently at me. "You drool." That was all she said. That was all she needed to say.

"Annabeth?" I asked quietly. No, it can't be. I felt so much pain in my chest. It felt like someone clothed a knife with greek fire and continuously stabbed me in the heart. Stab. Twist. Pull. Stab. Twist. Pull. Again and again. It hurts so bad. Then my vision was cleared up and I saw Emily.

"Annabeth. Is she the one?"

I sighed, "Yeah." There was a long pause. "Let's go, we need to get to camp."

Emily PoV (A/N didn't expect that did you? Anyways, I can't write like a six year old so, yeah, sorry. Bare with me. This part is essential to the plot.)

It was foolish of me to think I would finally have a family, to have someone to love, to have something permanent. Why would anyone want me? Everyone eventually ends up leaving me alone. Why? I put up a brave smile for Percy's sake. I can tell that even though he puts on a carefree facade, I know that he's hurt deeply. He smiles for my sake, but it never reaches his eyes. When I first looked into his eyes, I felt like I saw his soul, his life. He held so much pain in those sea green eyes of his.

Percy PoV

We were about four hundred feet from camp, when we were attacked by a group of over two hundred monsters. The monsters weren't the biggest problem. I had to protect Emily while fighting, that was the hard part. I knew sooner or later the monsters were going to get a lucky shot and strike her. She was just about to get stabbed, when I jumped in and took the knife for her. I was slowly losing it. I took the risk and turned to Emily, "Hurry, when I start fighting again, run for that tree. When you get passed it you will be safe." I turned and blocked the Cyclops just in time. I slashed its head off while Emily had tears falling from her cheeks now. "No, I won't leave you."

"You have to. Go, call for help. That is the only way for you to help me." I didn't wait for a response. I went into war mode. I started to fight with the last of my strength. I was able to finish off most of the monsters. Then, I couldn't take it anymore and fell on the floor. The dracaena was about to land the final blow when it turned to dust. The last thing I saw was Chiron and some campers running towards me.

Two days later

I opened my eyes. I tried to lift my head, but all I got was a lot of pain. I groaned from the pain. I heard someone yell, "Chiron, he's up!" It was blurry, but I saw those unique grey eyes, that I can never mistaken for anyone else's. Annabeth that was my only thought.