52. It's Okay

"It's not working," she complained.

"We can do it," Percy said. "Let's start again." Thalia huffed and walked into his living room.

"Hey!" Percy called running after her. "Come on, we just have to practice some more." Thalia tried to bite her tongue. He didn't understand that every time she sang memories of her father invaded her consciousness and made it hard for her to concentrate sometimes.

"Maybe it's the song," Percy continued. "We can change it –"

"Just forget it, okay," Thalia sighed. She glanced at her watch. She had to get home and dress quickly before she was late. "Look, I have to go, okay? We'll- we'll just practice another day." Percy pursed his lips, but nodded.

"All right. Tomorrow?" he asked wishfully.

"I don't know," Thalia muttered as she grabbed her bag and left. She felt bad ditching Percy like that without even a kiss goodbye, but if she stayed any longer again she would snap at him and more than likely say something she'll regret. So, she put on her music and walked home.

When she got there her Mom was sitting on the couch watching TV. She had a blanket over her legs and her stomach was now unmistakable. She rubbed it softly while she ate chips. Thalia walked straight to her room without stopping long enough for her mother to say anything. Once she was in her room, she pulled out the dress she was going to wear to Venita's wedding. It was knee-length and black with short, ruffled sleeves. She slipped into the dress and started searching for shoes when she realized she had nothing fancy to go with the dress.

So, she had to wear converse to the wedding. It was no big deal. She grabbed her bag and left when her mother called after her, "Thalia, where are you going?" Thalia wanted to keep walking, but she sighed. Her mother seemed to be improving ever since her pregnancy. It probably wasn't fair just to ignore her like that.

"I'm going to a friend's wedding," she said. Her mother sat up excitedly.

"A wedding? Really?"

"Yes." Her mother looked down and picked at her shirt.

"Can I go too?" The question took Thalia off guard. Her mother had never shown any interest in anything Thalia ever did or wanted to spend time with her, and now she wants to go to the wedding with her. Thalia wasn't even sure what to do.

"Uh, I- I guess." Her mother smiled softly and stood up, but almost lost her balance. Her arms waved a bit until she could stay still.

"I'll go get dressed." Thalia was still perplexed by her mother's character, but she couldn't help the smile that was touching her lips. When she realized it, she cleared her throat and shook her head and walked into her mother's bedroom.

"Do you even have anything that fits?" Thalia asked. Her mother looked at her with squished eyebrows. Of course.

"Well, here, let's do this," Thalia said. She walked towards the closet and searched for the yellow dress her mother had used a few months ago. It had a zipper, but there was no way it was going to close. So, she grabbed a white cardigan, hoping it wasn't stained, and handed it to her mother.

"Use the cardigan to cover up the zipper," she said. Her mother did as she was told. Thalia grabbed a piece of string and a few pins to keep it from opening to much and then stepped back to look at her masterpiece.

"Well, it'll have to do. We're already late." Thalia grabbed her bag and left. Since they were late, they took a bus to Venita's house instead of walking.

"Thalia!" Pumpkin yelled when they came down the sidewalk.

"Hey Pumpkin!" Thalia said, giving the little girl a hug.

"Who is that?" Pumpkin asked, pointing at the woman in the yellow dress standing next to Thalia.

"Oh, um, this is my mother, Pumpkin." Pumpkin looked at her curiously since Thalia never really spoke of her mother at all.

"Well, it's nice to meet you! Oh, are you going to have a baby too?" she asked excitedly. Lilah fidgeted and instinctively placed her hand on her stomach.

"Yes."

"Mom is having a baby too! She's going to have a girl, isn't that awesome? I'm going to have a little sister! Is yours a girl too?" Pumpkin asked. "It could be fun if they could have baby playdates," she laughed.

"Oh, well, I don't know yet," Lilah said. An image of a little blond boy flashed through Thalia's mind. It's okay, sister his voice echoed. She shook her head. It's okay. It's okay.

"Well, anyways, come on, we're getting ready for the wedding," Pumpkin said as she led the way into the house. Every window in the house was opened bathing the inside with golden sunlight. Flowers decorated the whole house and there was a rectangular table full of snacks in the kitchen. The house was full of people chit chatting back and forth and eating little crackers with cheese.

"I'll tell Mom you're here," Pumpkin smiled before she disappeared up the stairs. Thalia stood awkwardly in the midst of all the strangers and frowned.

"My feet hurt," her mother said as she walked over to a couch in the living room. She plopped down and sighed contentedly. Thalia pursed her lips, but sat next to her watching the people who had come for Venita's wedding.

"It looks nice," Lilah said. "I wish I had a wedding like this." Thalia stayed quiet.

"Are you going to have one?" she asked Thalia. If Thalia wasn't sitting, she'd have lost her balance.

"Excuse me?" Lilah smiled.

"I know I've been a terrible mother ever since your father left, and I know you want nothing to do with me since you keep your life a complete secret from me, but I can tell there's someone special in your life now."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Thalia said, knowing full well that she did. Lilah pursed her lips.

"You care a lot about him, don't you? I can tell. You've been different." Thalia looked away. Lilah touched her shoulder, but pulled her hand back when Thalia didn't react.

"He must really be something if he has your love. Don't push him away, okay? I'm not saying you have to accept me, but I don't want you to be lonely." Thalia felt her eyes sting and she wanted her mother to just shut up. It's okay. Is it really?

"I –" but Thalia couldn't finish her sentence. Everyone started filing out the door into the backyard with Pumpkin shooing them out. The wedding was about to start.

Hey guys... It's been a very long time since I last updated and I'm sorry about that. I didn't have the right inspiration and I knew that if I tried to write anything it would be utter crap. You should thank almisk for this chapter. If they hadn't PM-d me to remind me not to give up on the story, this chapter wouldn't be up yet, so thank you for kicking me in the butt almisk! I hope you guys like this chapter, please let me know what you think :)