Good grief, another angsty yet fluffy one-shot. I swear I'm metally stable. Also, anyone I know would tell you I am the definition of an optimist. But, this story kinda wrote itself. The next thing I write, I promise will be an addition to one of my other stories, I swear. we are regardless. Please, please, please review. I want to become a better writer and the only way I can is with feedback from you guys. Anyway, here ya go.
This is a song fict for No Place Like You by Joy Williams. I recommend listening whilst reading. All rights go to the artist and the author, per usual.
Percy rolled over, still half asleep. He stretched his arms out to feel for the expected warm body on the other side of the bed. Instead, his work worn hands were met with cold cotton sheets. His brain tumbled out of it's fog to register the empty bedside, and he sat up, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. The clock on his bedside table read 4:15. What on Earth is she doing up at 4:15, he thought groggily. Pushing off of the mattress, Percy stood and padded out of their room.
The hallway of their apartment- which Annabeth had designed herself- was a poorly lit obstacle course of children's toys, laundry baskets and unholy plastic bricks known as legos.
Percy saw a light shining from under the door down the hall, and he made his way over. Stopping just outside at the sound of a voice.
Pressing his ear against the wood, Percy could hear his wife carrying out a conversation with someone. He twisted the doorknob ever so slowly and cracked the door. The room glowed softly, light reflecting off of the white wooden crib. A pink, tulle covered lamp illuminated a figure in the tan Lazyboy rocking chair. Annabeth's blonde hair was a frizzy halo of honey curls. He thought she had never looked more beautiful. Her familiar soothing tone floated over the lavender scented air and filled Percy's heart with comfort and love. Letting go of the door knob, he walked closer to his wife, careful not to disturb the peace.
"-ommy and daddy," Percy was now close enough to hear what she was saying. "We love you so much, pumpkin. I know you had to go, baby. I'm still sad." Percy's breath hitched.
Annabeth continues to talk, force words out, not sounding nearly as tearful as Percy felt. As his soul and heart felt.
"But honey, don't you worry. I'm watching out for Daddy. Me and Daddy, we're gonna be okay. Don't you worry about us, okay." She cleared her throat, "Until next time, Baby. Mommy loves you so, so much. Don't you ever." Her voice cracked along with Percy's heart. "Ever forget that."
After a few minutes of Annabeth's quiet sniffing, Percy walked up closer to her and shifted his foot, making the floor squeak, alerting her of his presence. Her head popped up and Percy's eyes met her own silver eyes, swimming in tears.
"May I join you?" He asked hoarsely. Annabeth nodded, and Percy sat himself at the base of the chair. Wordlessly, Annabeth slid down from the chair. Sitting on his lap, she leaned her back against his chest, nestling into his embrace. Percy allowed himself to breath in her familiar scent as she reclined her head against his chest. She smelled of lemon and a bright sunny day, just as she did when they were kids. She trembled slightly as tears streamed down her face.
Cradled in her hands was a turquoise satin blanket. Embroidered in one corner, in large fancy letters were the initials SJA. Sophia Anne Jackson. In the opposite corner was the phrase: May she stay in our hearts forever, and may she live among the stars, for she was destined to go beyond.The words always filled Percy with a sense of a void as well as hope, as he supposed they were meant to do.
The couple securely in each other's embrace, until Percy confessed, "I talk to her sometimes too. It's comforting" Annebth nodded against his chest. "Makes me feel closer to the stars." He gave a soft chuckle, that rumbled deep in his chest.
Annabeth sighed, her body ceased shaking and she relaxed against his body. Even though they'd been married for almost 10 years and known each other far longer, it always filled his heart with an overwhelming feeling of absolute love. It made him catch his breath and hold still, as if he was holding his daughter again, for the very first time.
"The stars are lucky to get so much of your attention." The joke lifted the air some, and made Percy laugh.
"Are you saying that I don't give you enough attention." He unwrapped his arms from her waist, where they habitually rested, to poke her sides, eliciting a squeal from his wife.
"Stop it Percy!" She cried, laughing. Annabeth dropped her voice, "You're going to wake Bee, and then we won't get anymore quiet time until tonight." Percy yielded and rewrapped his arms about her waist.
"Four years." She breathed. "Four years tomorrow."
"Today," Percy murmured. "It's like five in the morning." He could practically see the eye roll.
"But really, time goes so fast."
Percy nodded, it really did. Time flew, it blurred the hole some, but never took it all. Instead though, time gave them love, it gave them healing. Gave them hope.
Almost on cue, a tiny wail could be heard from the room down the hall.
Annabeth sighed and pulled out of his embrace, "Baby's calling, baby."
Percy mimicked her sigh playfully, and pulled himself away from Annabeth, to gather the wailing bundle of joy.
He went into her room, the next door over. The room was a soft lavender color. The rising sun shone pink through the gauzy purple curtains. A white gilded crib stood to one wall, under a silhouette of a dancer, and a rocking chair sat in the corner. A tiny blonde girl gurgled and wailed again from under a swaddling blanket. Percy bent at the waist and scooped her out of the crib.
"Shh lovey, Daddy's right here, I got you Bee." He shifted so her head rested on his shoulder, a purple blanket matching Sophia's draped over her tiny body. Percy stepped over the toys littered on the ground and made his way back to Annabeth. He stopped short when he passed the master bedroom. She had relocated to their king sized bed. Smiling, he carried her Bianca and set her on the bed. Percy stretched out across from Annabeth and watched her eyes fill with love as she played with their daughter. Bianca gurgled happily and grasped for strands of Annabeth's honey colored locks. Annbeth laughed and pulled her closer. Percy laughed and observed the exchange from the outside. Tucking the sense of pride and endearment into his heart.
"Daddy?" A small voice called from the doorway. Percy rolled over to face the small dark haired boy in the doorway.
"Hey chief! Come here." He sat up and held his arms out for the boy to clamber up on the bed and settle in his arms. The boy peered up at Percy from beneath a mop of raven hair. His eyes sparkling orbs of quicksilver.
"Do you know what t'day it is Daddy?"
Percy shook his head in mock confusion and glanced at Annabeth. "No idea, buddy. Mommy, do you know?" Annabeth looked up and shook her head at the boy. Her lips pursed deliciously hiding a smile.
"What's today, baby?" She looked intently at the serious child holding court on Percy's lap. Bianca gurgled and he reached over, letting her pull on his finger while he answered, "It's my birt'day! How could you forget that Daddy?"
Yeah, so that took me like a whole week. But, tada! In case you don't get the storyline. Annabeth is talking to their daughter who died at birth and Percy mentions that her birthday is that day. She would have been turning 4. At the end, a little boy comes in and announces that it's his birthday….and I'm sure you get it. Anyway, please review, and remember that I will be updating this weekend, on a lot of stuff. Love ya'll
~Charlie