Disclaimer: All the deserving rights to Rick Riordan.
Author's Note: Once there was a really mother of 2, she loved to write fanfics, then she started publishing them and people liked them. So she really happy. Thank you all. Officially starting the second half.
36. New Year's Eve
The last days had been more or less the same. I woke up, I ran and trained with Henry, I played with the kids and I spent my evening with the whole family.
Today was New Year's Eve. I was a bit sad that the break was nearly over.
It was already 4 o'clock in the afternoon in the last day of the year. Mama Sally and I were cooking a feast for everybody. Henry wouldn't be here until 9 PM, Centurion duty. I was happily stirring cake mix and sighing at the clock now and then.
"You watching the clock won't make it move faster" said Mama.
"I know, I just…" I said.
"Miss Henry" said Mama Sally and giggled.
"Shut up, Mama" I said annoyed.
"You fell for the boy?" said Mama Sally raising her eyebrow.
"Like Icarus with broken wings" I said.
"He is good for you. You both complete each other. Just like Percy and Annabeth" said Mama Sally and I felt her voice sad and looked away deep in thought. I put my head on Mama's shoulder.
"I know. I miss him too" I said.
"Keep stirring. That cake won't make itself" said Mama and wiped one tear from her cheek.
By 8 o'clock, my cake was ready as well as the rest of the food. Piper was already here with Maria Bianca and JJ. Nico was coming later with Frank and Henry after 9. Peter and Patrick were a bit buzzed of drinking Piper's special cider which was really tasty by the way. Annabeth was hugging and kissing Pamela while Philip and Paris played chess on the table. Those two really love to play chess and they are very good. They had to be Annabeth's kids.
I was looking at the clock leaning on the doorway when Piper looked at me with concentration.
"You really like Henry" said Piper staring at me. I looked at her and I knew I couldn't lie to a daughter of Aphrodite in love matters.
"More that I thought. I will miss him" I said.
"You could come here" said Piper.
"I have to be in New York" I said trying to convince myself because every time I saw the purple t-shirt inside my bag, my resolution wobbled like jelly.
"We'll see about that later" said Piper really insightful and walked to sit with Annabeth and Pamela.
Finally, it was 9 o'clock and I was feeling really restless. Taking glances at the windows waiting for see them. Paul placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled sweetly at me.
"Wait outside" said Paul and kissed my forehead. I nodded at him. I walked outside and sat on the entrance wearing my new black leather jacket (Nico's gift) under a red fitted dress right above my knees (Piper's gift).
I waited and waited until I saw them. Frank, Nico and Henry were walking together on the street coming to the house. I stood up and waved at them with a big bright smile. Henry saw me and waved me back. Frank pushed Henry's shoulder making him perfectly clear to run at me. Gladly, Henry doesn't need to be told twice.
I jumped in his arms and he spun me. He kissed me tenderly next to the entrance.
"Hey, it's not still midnight. Save some for later" said Frank giggling when he passed by us.
"Yes, General" said Henry.
"These kids" said Frank.
"Yeah, like you weren't like that with my sister" said Nico giggling at him and both entered through the door.
"Hi" said Henry looking at my eyes.
"Hi. Let's go inside" I said and pulled his hand to enter the house.
Once everybody was here, we had dinner. I really enjoyed those moments, everybody laughing and talking about the good times. I was so happy but I sometimes had really moments of deep sadness thinking that Percy was losing all this. He hadn't seen his baby girl or hugged Paris and Philip in months.
"Hey, what are you thinking? Percy?" whispered Henry in my ear since I looked sadly at my half-done plate.
"Yeah, these are the happy moments that we should share them together" I said softly to him only.
"I know" said Henry and kissed the tip of my nose. I heard Peter grunting in disapproval.
After dinner, Philip, Paris even JJ fell asleep in the couch. They were so hyper all day and they just drained from playing. Henry and Patrick took Philip and Paris upstairs to bed while Frank helped Piper to take JJ in Philip's bed.
The grownups and the teens were on the living room with cider and chatting. It was almost midnight.
"Do you have any resolution?" I said to Henry while we were sitting on the couch.
"Spend as much time as I can with you, and win my medal back on the Games" said Henry winking at me.
"Like you are going to win this year" I snorted.
"You haven't practiced with the bow in months while I do it daily. Sorry, you are not match to me anymore" said Henry and we kissed lightly. Peter grunted loudly. He was more buzzed that before, almost drunk.
"It's almost time. Let's count" said Piper excited also a bit buzzed.
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year" said everybody loud. Patrick threw confetti in the air and the couples kissed each other and we hugged and kissed everyone.
Out of nowhere, Peter kissed me fully on the lips. I never expected this. I was so surprised that I didn't move an inch.
"What do you think you are doing, punk?" said Henry pulling Peter from the shoulder and away from me.
"What? Are you worried that I am a better kisser?" said Peter really smugly.
"You just crossed a line. You promised to back off" said Henry loudly taking Peter from the collar.
"What are you going to do? Hit me in front of my family" said Peter really satisfied of himself.
"Henry, let him go. He is not worthy" I said placing my hand on Henry's making him letting go of Peter.
"You are right. He is not worthy" said Peter and we walked outside.
We were in the sidewalk and hugging each other. I could feel his fury draining slowly in our embrace.
"Are you Ok?" said Henry at me.
"Yeah, it was only a kiss. You are not losing me that easily" I said and I kissed him under the moonlight. Then he left back to Camp.
Tonight I had a bad dream. What a way to start the year! The dream was dark and murky. I felt like I was swimming in mud. I saw somebody in the water but it was difficult to see it clearly, just a big shadow.
"Shut up!" yelled Percy swinging his sword in the mud in frustration
"It must be done" said the same hateful eerie voice.
"I can't do it. I won't do it" yelled Percy furiously.
"He must die" said the voice.
"He is the half" pleaded Percy with such a sad voice.
"He will die" said the voice and that was the end of the conversation.
"I'm so sorry" said Percy crying and sobbing like asking for forgiveness. I knew why he was apologizing.
I woke up scared. I felt my whole body shaking scared. I knew exactly what I had to do now. It was necessary. I cried for over one hour locked in the bathroom before getting ready for the morning run.