Notes: Hi all! To make up for the late post last week, it's an earlier post this week. I'm on youth camp leader retreat all weekend, so I can't post tomorrow.

Today, we get to check in on Sally and Paul. And, of course, Percy's little half-sister. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 6: Try and Be Still -990-

18 years after the Battle of Manhattan

Percy was ready to fall in a heap before he realised that it was Katie's graduation today. His mortal family may accept the long absences, but it had better be another full blown war before he missed this.

Groaning, he cleaned himself up. He'd had to deal with a group of telekhines that had attempted to infiltrate the forges, and they hadn't exactly gone down easily. Even with Tyson weighing in.

Manipulating the mist to mask his arrival, he quickly searched for his mothers greying curls in the crowd.

Sally, however, found him first.

"Percy!" He heard his mother's exasperated voice coming from behind him. "I was wondering if you'd forgotten."

Percy turned towards her as she approached, greeting her with a hug. "Hadn't forgotten," he assured her. "Just got caught up." He winced as Sally brushes over a bruise on his shoulder. "Telekhines get a tad testy when challenged," he added in response to his mother's unspoken query.

Sally just sighed.

"Hey Paul," Percy greeted Paul as he caught up to the pair.

"Percy," Paul grinned, gripping his stepson's hand tightly in greeting.

The trio started moving towards the hall, taking their seats among the chatter of the other families. Percy was aware of the questioning looks from other families.

Eventually, one of the nearby women leaned over her seat, greeting Sally enthusiastically. "Sally! How are you! Hard to believe this day's here, isn't it?" the woman blurted out, eyes darting to Percy throughout her one-sided conversation. Paul managed to hide a snicker behind a cough as Sally sighed. "Yes, Evie, it's a tad daunting..." Sally's tone was wistful as she eyed the stage for a moment. She jolted herself from her reverie, realising the younger woman was still waiting for an explanation of Percy's presence. "Evie, this is my son, Percy," she motioned to Percy. "Percy, Evie. Her daughter's one of Katie's classmates."

Percy gave the woman a breezy smile, "Hi," was his short response to Sally's gentle elbow in his side.

Evie's eyebrows rose slightly. "I hadn't realised your son was so much older, Sally," the woman said, clearly thrown by the lack of familial resemblance between the two, as well as the age difference.

Sally just shrugged. "You never asked," she replied, turning towards the stage, where the school's headmaster was now preparing to address the gathered families.

Katie was ecstatic to have her idolised big brother there. Well, that was if the ear-piercing squeal of delight was any indication before running to greet Percy with a tackle-hug.

"Hey there, Katie-Bear," Percy grinned as the curly-haired seventeen-year-old continued to squeeze him. "Even I've gotta breathe, you know."

"I didn't know if you'd make it," she said quietly.

"You know what Mom's like when she's disappointed, I'd never be able to show my face again!" Percy responded jokingly, eliciting a giggle from the teenager. "Nah, I wouldn't miss this, Katie," he reassured her.

"Good," she replied, the smile so reminiscent of Paul broke out on her face. "Cause I don't know how I'd ever forgive you!" she added teasingly.

"Brat," Percy tugged at her curls playfully.

Katie then launched herself into the arms of Sally and Paul.

"Reckon I did good?" she asked, a brilliant smile lighting her face. Paul matched it with the same smile and Sally laughed happily. "Definitely, sweetie."

Percy looked at the three of them, "Besides, you can now officially say you are the more educated sibling," he commented wryly. Katie grinned in response.

"You coming back to celebrate at the apartment?" Paul asked him as the four of them started towards the exit.

"Sure. I've got the rest of the day," Percy replied. "Besides, how often do I get to see my baby sister graduate high school?"

Dark muttering could be heard behind them in response. "I'm not a baby," Katie groused. "I'm seventeen".

"And I'm thirty-three going on immortal. Pretty sure that is always going to make you my baby sister."

More muttering, and Percy was sure Katie was sticking her tongue out at him.

Dinner was enjoyable enough, although dodging questions from Paul's extended family had Percy somewhat on edge. He usually managed to steer the conversation back to Katie and her plans for the future.

Katie had decided to branch out from her writer mother and English teacher mother, instead opting for the sciences when she started college in the following fall. Her plan was to go from her Pre-Veterinary degree into Cornell University—one of the country's leading veterinary schools. Percy was truly excited for her. But also a little envious. He'd never really got to plan what he would have done with his mortal life. Marine Biology? Surfing? Or something completely different? And the college lifestyle... He was kinda sorry he missed out on that.

Although, he still had the chance to party like a college student, technically speaking. Certainly, Apollo had been doing that for the past millennia.

Slowly, though, the get together started to wind down, eventually leaving the four of them to a slightly dishevelled apartment.

Percy gave his mother another hug, and shook Paul's hand as he started to make his own farewells.

Katie, her energy from earlier now starting to wane, attached herself to her brother like a limpet.

"Hey," Percy said softly. "I thought you'd grown out of the limpet hugs?"

Katie buried her head into his chest, "Don't want you to go," she said, her voice muffled.

"Katie," he sighed. "You know I have to. I'll be checking up on you though," he tightened his grip on her briefly before relaxing again.

"Promise?"

"Promise. So keep the wild parties to a minimum, hmm?" Percy elicited a weak giggle out of her, and she eventually loosened her grip on him.

With a wan smile, Percy left, the salty tang of the ocean lingering behind him.

Next Week: A change of perspective and a look at the Chase-Jones family.