Last chapter of the minific people! The Last Olympian's coming up soon, I hope you're all looking forward to it because I am. Also, sorry but you won't get to see Percy's badassery in this chap- after all in cannon it was because Hades attacked them, obviously with the changes she won't need to fight yet, but don't worry you won't have to wait too long. Please read and review guys!
Hades was crouched in front of Percy a moment later, "Persephone. Can you hear me?"
"Yeah." Percy let out a little cough, and gods but every inch of her body hurt, she felt like she'd been broiled over a slow flame- and her arms were a bright red, like she'd been burned. "Shit that hurts."
"Such an advantage always has a price to pay." Hades eyed her carefully, just a hint of concern in his eyes, and as Percy sat up she looked down at her arms again- watching the redness fade, leaving her usual natural tan, and as it did the pain faded. "How do you feel?"
"Uh." Percy hesitated, looking up to meet her uncles eyes, "I don't know." she admitted. "I feel..." how did she feel? Different, and yet not at all at the same time. She felt more alive than she had ever felt before- which was ironic considering how close she'd come to dying.
She got to her feet slowly, pulling Riptide from her pocket an uncapping it, sliding the blade across her hand- and there was nothing, not even a scratch. "It worked." she said after a moment, "I don't really know how I feel but it worked." she couldn't help but stare at the smooth unmarked skin. Gods but that was weird- oh she still had all of her scars but, well, she wouldn't be getting anymore of those now would she? She wondered just how far the invulnerability would stretch? Would she survive if someone shot at her? She should really but- the thought of it was dizzying.
"That is very good." Hades nodded, "You may stand a chance of lasting long enough to defeat father now." he watched her carefully, "Do you wish to go home now? I did prepare a bed for if you were unable to stay conscious- I admit I've never seen anyone bathe in the Styx, after all Achilles was a babe when he was bathed and if I knew the son of Hecate was here I would have sooner killed him than allowed him to gain such an advantage so I wasn't sure how you'd feel after."
"I feel fine now." Percy let out a breath. "I feel really good actually."
"Your strength and speed should have increased too." Hades told her, "But now is not the time to test that."
"Right. Now's the time to get home and get some sleep." Percy gave a wry smile, "Thank you for bringing me here uncle Hades. I appreciate it."
"Yes, well, you have helped me more than once-"
"We're family. That's what family should be for." And Hades looked almost amused as he shook his head.
"So you say Persephone, I don't think my brothers would agree though." he held out his arm, "I will escort you home now if you wish."
"Yeah." Percy grabbed his arm, and a moment later she was being whisked away through the shadows, and then they were outside of the Jackson home and Percy noticed that most of the lights were off now- but then again she wasn't sure how long she'd been gone- she could have been in the Styx for hours for all she knew.
"I must return to the Underworld." Hades voice was firm, "There are things that must be done before the war truly begins, preparations. When the time comes I will help you."
"Thank you." Percy gave him a small grin, "I'll see you around uncle Hades-" and then she was darting up the path- she tested the door- and she was relieved to find that it was unlocked and she opened it quickly, slipping inside.
When she turned her head to wave goodbye to Hades he was already gone and Percy hesitated, staring for a long moment before shrugging and turning back to the house, stepping inside, shutting and locking the door behind her before heading inside- and she faltered- spotting the glow of the lights in the kitchen- though the house was strangely silent- everyone else must have gone to bed.
She hesitated before heading to it quickly and poking her head into the kitchen- and her eyes widened at the sight that met her gaze when she did.
Her mom was sat slumped over the kitchen table, and Percy felt a rush of guilt when she realized that she must have stayed up waiting.
She moved over to the sleeping woman, gently touching her shoulder, "Mom- mom wake up-" and Sally started slightly, lifting her head, her eyes going wide at the sight of Percy.
"Percy- baby you're home." she looked almost like she wanted to cry as she reached out and pulled Percy into a tight hug, which Percy returned. "Did you do it honey?"
"Yeah mom I did." Percy gave a small nod, "Uncle Hades took me straight to the Styx and I did it." she pulled back slightly, eyeing her mom worriedly- her face was pale and her eyes were slightly red- she must have been so worried. For all she knew Percy was off dying in the Styx.
Percy watched her eyes widen, "Did it work honey? Are you invulnerable now? Do you have the curse of Achilles?" Sally's voice was beyond hopeful, "Did it work? Was it worth it?"
"Yeah, I think so." Percy grabbed her moms hands and squeezed, "I tried to cut my hand as a test and Riptide didn't even leave a mark."
"That's good right?" Sally relaxed, "That should make it harder for you to be killed shouldn't it?"
"Yeah, yeah it gives me a good chance." Percy nodded, "I'm not immortal- I still have weaknesses but I'm not going to just get stabbed or whatever. If someone wants to kill me then they'll need to figure out where my mortal spot is and I don't plan on telling anyone that."
"Right." Sally reached out, cupping Percy's cheek in the palm of her hand, "I love you honey. So much. You know that right? After everything that's happened I need you to know that."
"Of course I do." Percy kissed her moms cheek, "I've never doubted that. You made sure of that. You're the best mom in the history of Greek heroes-"
"I fear Lady Hera might not like you saying that." Sally looked incredibly amused at Percy's words.
"Who cares what Lady Hera thinks." Percy waved a hand dismissively, "I don't like her much, she hurt Leo when he was little, and she only cares about picture perfect families. A real mom doesn't care about how perfect a family looks- just look at you mom. Our family is about as weird and unconventional as it's possible to get."
"Maybe." Sally admitted, "But I wouldn't change it for the world." her voice was firm, "I love every single member of this family- even the unofficial ones like Drew and your girlfriends." her voice was filled with pride, "You've all grown up so much-" her eyes were going all misty- teary Percy realized. "I keep thinking about it, about everything now that I might be-" she let out a soft shaky laugh, "Well- now I get to add another little person to our family and I get to raise them and watch you all be the best siblings the baby could ever ask for-"
"Mom-" Percy's voice caught and she lurched forward, hugging her tightly and letting out a breath, "The baby's gonna be so loved."
"I really really hope they confirm it tomorrow." Sally brushed her fingers through Percy's hair, "I want a baby- You're all so grown up now- I want another little baby. I want to get to do it all over again. The only one of my kids I got to raise from birth was you and I miss that. I miss being able to pick you up and rock you. And I just can't wait to see you with the baby because I know you're an amazing big sister to Nico, Leo and Tyson."
"Will you tell me after you've had the test?"
"I will." Sally promised. "And then I'll tell Paul- I think he was going out with Luke and Leo tomorrow- Nico's going to camp to see Will."
"Of course he is." Percy grinned, "Those two are competing for Camps cutest couple-"
"You're no longer in the running for that one." Sally pointed out looking far too amused, "You're a triad not a couple-"
"But-" Percy's eyes widened, "Oh no you're right! We're not the cutest couple in camp anymore-"
"You're the cutest triad-"
"But that doesn't sound so good, and it's not like there's any competition." Percy pouted, "That is probably the only downside. Sure I have the two greatest girlfriends in the history of girlfriends but we're no longer the cutest couple in camp- wait, so does that mean Nico and Will are up against Luke and Thalia, Clarisse and Chris and Silena and Beckendorf because if so they are gonna kick those losers butts any day of the week-"
"Honey-" Sally laughed, "It's good to see that bathing in the Styx hasn't change the fact that you get ridiculously sidetracked and distracted so easily." she shifted her chair back and stood up, "Now honey, I think we should probably both get some sleep, I'm going to need to get some sleep too- I have a big day tomorrow." Sally pressed a hand to her belly, "Gods it doesn't feel real yet."
"It will." Percy stood up too, "Right, bedtime it is." she tried to stifle a yawn- because now that her mom had mentioned it, she was tired. It had been a long day after all, bathing in the Styx had been draining to say the least.
And Percy was asleep before her head even hit the pillow, still wearing her jeans and a tee- she didn't even stop for long enough to kick off her shoes she was so tired.
And when Sally came home from the doctors the next day, since Paul was out with Luke and Leo- Percy honestly wasn't sure what they were actually doing.
She was in her bedroom texting her girlfriends- they had a group chat- though she hadn't told them what she'd done the night before, when she heard the door opening downstairs- and honestly she probably set a speed record for getting out of her room and down the stairs, freezing up when her gaze focused on her mom, and Sally smiled, turning her head towards Percy- she had probably heard her rushing to get down the stairs, and Sally gave her a wide, brilliant smile, "Can you distract your brothers this evening, maybe go out and see a movie or something. I think I need to give Paul some news-"
"Does that mean what I think it means?" Percy asked quickly, her eyes wide and her expression hopeful and excited.
"It means that Paul and I are going to need help setting up a nursery for when your baby sibling is big enough that she can sleep in their own room."
"Yes!" Percy almost flew down the last few steps, grabbing her moms hands and bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, "There's gonna be a baby! I get a baby sibling to play with!"
"You do." Sally laughed brightly, squeezing Percy's hands, "I would say brace yourself because babies are hard work but given the fact that you're so good with Leo and Nico I don't think you'll have any issues-"
"Exactly, Leo's gotta be harder to handle than any baby- at least a baby won't blow stuff up at least twice a week-"
"Ah, but you'll have to deal with both of them at once." Sally pointed out seriously, a smile playing across her lips at Percy's obvious excitement. "Do you think they'll be as happy as you are?"
"Are you kidding me? Leo will be super excited to get to play with the baby- and Nico's gonna be so glad that he's not the baby of the family any more. As for Luke- let's face it, he's pretty much the ultimate big brother he's gonna be so happy to get to dote on a little baby sibling again."
"That is true." Sally paused, "I'm not going to tell them yet though- no- no don't argue-" she saw Percy's disappointed look, "I don't want them to be distracted. Once this whole mess with your grandfather is over, then we'll tell them. There's too much going on at the moment."
"Right." Percy's shoulders slumped, "Right. That makes sense, even if it does suck."
"I know- and I know you hate keeping secrets from them but you know it's the smart thing to do." Sally kissed Percy's cheek, "Just until after the war okay?"
"Of course mom." Percy nodded, and she meant it.
All she had to do now was try to survive the war.