Homecoming

Chapter XIV: Pieces of Forever

Percy was woken up by the gentle kiss pressed against his lips, his eyelids fluttering open sleepily as he gazed at the amused expression of his fiance. Instinctively his arms reached to encircle her waist, yet she stepped back playfully from his embrace.

"Morning sleepy head," she teased, and while it was only 8 am, Percy's sleeping habits had become sporadic since returning from Tartarus. Truthfully she was extremely surprised she could make her way from the bedroom and prepare her surprise for him without his waking up. Generally, in the event one or the other would need to get up in the middle of the night, their partner would be awake and uneasy until their return, so the still sleeping Percy was something Annabeth would not take advantage of when given the opportunity.

As he sat up and questioned with his eyes why she had stepped away from him, he watched her turn and retrieve a tray from the dresser and place it on his lap. Pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage links and a glass of orange juice were all prepared and set on the serving tray for him as she kissed him again on the cheek.

"What's all this?" he asked, staring at the mountain of food she had apparently prepared.

"It's Thursday," she replied as way of explanation, her smile softening into an expression of devoted love that only he was ever privy to. "I told you this was a surprise day, I want to make this your day." That was true. Following the itinerary Annabeth had laid out for their visit, they had already visited the Legion Honor Museum and Chinatown on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. The planned trip to Alcatraz Island was stopped however given how amazing the exhibits in the Legion Honor Museum were. However, Annabeth had indicated that Thursday was left without the planned events for the day, with the blonde demigod replying only that it was a surprise.

"Okay?" Percy asked, arching an eyebrow as he looked from the food to the beautiful vision of his fiance standing silhouetted against the window. "But...Annabeth, you don't need to do anything special for me..."

"I don't have to do anything Percy," she replied, her smile shifting into a smirk, "I want to. You spend so much time trying to make everything perfect for me, everything you do reminds me how much you love me. I want to do something special for you, so yeah, this is my day to spoil you Seaweed Brain."

With his expression teetering between appreciative love for the blond-haired demigod and a self-conscious reservation that he should deserve such pampering, he relented before sliding sideways on the bed, his smile turning playful. "Fine, if this is my special day, then join me in eating breakfast. I want to share everything with you today, that'll make it special."

Annabeth offered a knowing smile as she slid into the bed beside Percy. The two laughing and teasing each other while feeding one another the food from the tray that Annabeth had prepared. It was a sweet gesture as Annabeth had only brought one fork for the meal she had prepared, the pair snatching the utensil from each others hands and using it to feed the other. When they had finished everything she had prepared for his breakfast, Annabeth slid from the bed and gathered the dishes to take to the kitchen to be cleaned.

"Go ahead and take a shower and get dressed, we're heading out in about fifteen minutes."

Percy had wanted to ask where she was taking him, but she had already departed from the room, leaving him to collect some clothes and prepare for the day. After a quick, yet thorough shower and change of clothes, Percy descended the stairs to meet Annabeth by the front door. Uncertain what was planned for the day, he wore a simple pair of blue cargo shorts and a gray t-shirt, the same shade of gray as Annabeth's eyes.

When her eyes fell upon him, a lightness illuminated her irises the way they always did when they were together, and she offered a happy smile before placing a gentle kiss against his cheek and lacing her fingers with his and guiding him out of the house. Her father had given her permission to use the car today, and she was excited to initiate her planned special day for Percy.

The drive to the selected destination took nearly 45 minutes, the time filled with small talk and the amazing opportunities allotted to them for venues, entertainment and shopping when they finally moved to New Rome. This of course, was only the opportunities in San Francisco, they had not even had the chance to tour their eventual home yet. It was becoming ever evident that they would not lack for activities to do, something they were both eagerly anticipating.

As the car finally pulled into the parking lot of Golden Gate Park, Percy's mouth fell open at the indescribable care and beauty of the manicured gardens lining the walking trails that lead into the park. It was an explosion of color and life that eclipsed anything visible within Central Park or even Camp Half-Blood.

"Oh my gods, this thing has everything," Percy breath in stunned amazement as he retrieved one of the visitors pamphlets at the entrance of the walking trail. "Japanese Tea Garden, museums...just how big is this place?"

"Big," Annabeth replied as she pulled the pamphlet from his hands and put it in her pocket while using the opportunity to hold his now freed fingers in her hand. "I've been here a few times with my dad when I lived with him and still haven't seen nearly everything. I wanted to share this place with you Percy. But for your special day, we're actually going there," she said, pointing to the large, concrete building that was the aquarium within the park.

Percy paused a moment as his face turned to his guide for the day, his brow furrowing as though not sure on the destination. Sensing his hesitation, Annabeth paused in her trek and looked at him. "Do you not want to go to the aquarium? We can do something else if you prefer..."

"No, it's not that," he began, though not quite sure how to explain his feelings. The last aquarium he went to was in Atlanta, and that didn't turn out so well. Additionally, he had been reluctant to spend any time around water or sea life, mostly due to his feelings of resentment and abandonment towards Poseidon. Since the conclusions of the Second Giant War, he had not heard from his father, and in truth, was in no hurry to do so, which was one of the reasons why he had nixed any idea of visiting the beach while they were visiting San Francisco. Certainly, being early March, the weather was not yet warm enough for an enjoyable time at the beach, but that was merely an excuse avoid the looming issue he had with his own bitterness.

"Hey, look at me Percy," Annabeth said, her fingers cradling his face as she turned his attention to her. "If you don't want to visit the aquarium we don't have to, it's just...you used to love the water and sea life. I was...I don't know, hoping to see that love in your eyes that sparkled every time looked at the ocean."

"I was the one hoping you'd see that love every time I looked at you," he joked, though the seriousness of his words were evident for the young woman at his side.

"You know what I mean Percy," she recanted as she placed her hand on his chest, directly over his heart where her fingers would instinctively gravitate whenever she wanted to speak candidly to her fiance. "Tartarus has taken too much from us, I was hoping we could take some of it back."

He responded by gliding the backs of his fingers gently against the soft skin of her cheek, a smile of absolute love parting his lips as she closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. It amazed him so fully to know that he could elicit such a reaction from her, that he was drawn that singular action. For someone who found it so difficult to concentrate due to his hyperactivity, it was illuminating that know that this remarkable woman could narrow his focus solely to her whenever she was near, or when she smiled, or when she spoke. Truly, she was the focus of his entire life, and he would have it no other way.

"Tartarus didn't ignore me the first 12 years of my life, and then claim me only to go find a stupid lightning bolt which I had no way of stealing. Tartarus was just the culmination of everything that had been dangling over my head, like an ax ready to fall, since I've been born.

"It's no different for you, being pushed into a death sentence of a solo quest to find a statue that hundreds, if not thousands of your siblings had been thrown at over the centuries. I just feel like the gods claiming they love us is a lie, they only care about us when they have need for us...nothing more. So, its just, going into the beach or the ocean, or even an aquarium, I feel like it's honoring Poseidon when I just don't feel like he deserves it. And I hate feeling like that, I really do. But it's so hard to respect or love someone who only treats you like a tool or a piece of property. To pluck you out of your life and erase your memories without your consent, like your opinion or desires don't matter, as long as they get what they want. I don't think I will ever get over how I was thrown into New Rome with no memories and treated like, I don't know, an ink pen you just pass back and forth...like I'm not a person, just an object to them. And I hate feeling that way."

Moving her hands to encircle his waist, Annabeth rested her head against his chest and held him for several minutes before answering. "I know exactly how you feel Percy, the bitterness and anger...I understand all of it, believe me. My mother...I mean, Athena, I pleaded with her to tell me where you were taken, where you were. I can only assume she would have known of Hera's plan, she may have helped prepare for it even.

"But it's the same thing, we've sacrificed so much with nothing to show for it except PTSD, and trauma, scars and injuries that will never heal, and more baggage than we can carry. But I acknowledge that when I go to a library or enter a classroom, I know this is typically Athena's domain, but I don't go to honor her, I go because its something I want for myself. I don't want to reject a part of myself, of who I am because I feel resentment or rejected by Athena. I want to learn and know more about the world than I do right now, so my pursuit of knowledge, I do it for myself.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't let the gods take any more from you. If you love something, enjoy it for yourself, don't reject it because you feel it belongs to the gods." She had completed her monologue by tightening her embrace, pulling him as close to her as physically possible as she moved her head to rest on his shoulder. Percy had his head resting on top of hers, his arms around her shoulders, and likewise, tightened his embrace to express as much love for this incredible woman as he was able.

"You're amazing, do you know that?" he asked, his words soft and voice deep with emotion as he kissed the top of her head. But Annabeth merely shook her head in response to his sentiment.

"We're amazing Percy. Everything we've done in this world, we've done it together. There is no me without you..."

"And there's no me without you," he said, completing the mantra. "Still," he paused as he nestled his cheek against the soft curls of her hair. "We should probably get going, my amazingly incredible, not to mention mind-blowingly gorgeous fiance planned a day for us to spend in the aquarium. And I want to see the sharks."

Laughing at his words, she pulled away and arched her eyebrow. "'Mind-blowingly gorgeous' huh? You know, if any other guy said that to me, I'd launch myself into a lecture about how objectifying women is an insult to the person they're trying to seduce and they should appreciate more than just physical beauty. But, as it was said by my super-hot, amazingly sweet and gentle fiance, who happens to be the love of my life...I think I like the sound of that."

"Well, I'm glad," Percy smirked as he kissed the tip of Annabeth's nose, causing her to laugh at the ridiculous expression he wore. "But if any other guy ever said something like that to you, I think I'd have to rip his head off."

"There won't be any need, I'd have beaten you to it," she replied, pressing a lingering kiss against his jaw before pulling away to stare fixedly into his eyes. "Because I'm taken, and no one will ever be able to measure up to you."

Pulling back slightly so that he could rearrange his hand to cradle her face, Percy's face softened to one of complete devotion as he enlisted a soft smile that adorned his featured. "Despite everything, all my doubts about myself, all the humiliation and ridicule I've dealt with from classmates and teachers and everything…you make me believe I'm good enough. Gods I'm terrified of what I would be without you."

"You will never have to worry about that Percy," she said, moving her own hands to wrap her fingers around his wrists and holding them in support. "But I have the same fears you do. I only need to look in your eyes though to know that we're meant to be. You and me, we just fit, you know?"

"Yeah, I know," he smiled as he found himself lost in her presence. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was reminded for the second time today that, despite all the wondrous images surrounding them, the many flowers and hedges, the amazing architecture, he could not help but realize Annabeth was the most beautiful vision he had seen or will ever see. To say that he loved her was too simple a feeling, because in truth, he worshiped her, and couldn't bring himself to care if that sentiment was blasphemous. "Come on," he said, moving to kiss her gently on the lips before taking her hand in his. "What do you say we go see some sharks."

Annabeth smiled as she moved to walk beside Percy and enter the aquarium. She was not sure if he had fully bought into the idea of enjoying what he loved regardless of the gods' influence, or if he was simply going along with the plan to appease her, but she hoped that he would take pleasure in journeying through the aquarium.

In the end, Annabeth's concerns were unwarranted. Percy had laughed more in his time traveling through the supported water tunnels and lined aquarium tanks than he had in the past two months. His joy of ordering the fish to dance and swim in formation to the bewilderment of the mortals and the pleasure of his precious fiance made her heart swell with joy. So often in their relationship, he had taken the burden of shouldering so much of the pain of their pasts that she felt gratified that she was able to make him laugh and bring joy back to his expressions.

His laughter was all the joy of her life wrapped up in a singular sound, and it was beautiful.

They had spent three hours touring the aquarium, Percy joking with her and making the fish perform various designs and tricks, much to her enjoyment. Once they had completed their tour of the grounds, the pair began walking a trail leading to a restaurant Annabeth had scouted out that served two-pound hamburgers. As they made their way to diner to have lunch, Percy halted their progress and wrapped Annabeth in a tight embrace.

"Thank you for this Wise Girl," he said, brushing his lips against her hair as he pulled her closer to him. "I didn't realize how much I needed this until this moment. You always know how to make everything perfect, do you know that?"

Smiling as she pressed her lips to his shoulder before laying her head against the spot she kissed, she allowed herself to cherish the moment of warmth and peace within her lover's arms. "That door swings both ways Percy. You've given me so much joy and happiness in my life, I'm glad to know I can return that."

"Always," he answered, sealing his promise with a kiss.

-0-

The pair had arrived back at the Chase residence a little after five, entering the house to find Helen working on preparing a salad for tonight's dinner, while Frederick was grilling ribs in the back yard. Bobby and Matthew however were seated at the kitchen table, finishing homework when they both looked up pleadingly, as though Annabeth and Percy would be their salvation from the drudgery of numeric equations and plot summary analysis.

"Yes!" the twins chorused as they leapt from their seats and started towards the basement and their gaming system. The idea of playing video games with Percy and Annabeth again obviously fed into their mercenary monopolization of Annabeth and Percy's time. Plus, it was a viable excuse to get out of homework, because how often did they get the opportunity to hang out with their sister and her fiance.

"Hold it," Annabeth said, imposing herself into the twins desire to vacate the homework laden table before Helen could intervene. "You two are not going anywhere until you finish your homework. Work now, play later," said, taking a seat at the table and fixing a determined stare towards her brothers, who grudgingly returned their seats and pouted at the implied victimization of having a stern sister as an unrelenting task master.

Having been on the receiving end of that stare many times, Percy chuckled as he leaned down and kissed Annabeth on the cheek. "I'm going to see if your dad needs any help with the grill." He said, rewarded by a sweet smile from the blond-haired demigod.

"I think he'd like that," she said softly, her words only for Percy to hear. "Think he's been wanting to talk to you alone, so here's your chance."

"Should I be worried?" he asked simply, only to have Annabeth playfully push him in the direction of the back door. Laughing lightly, Percy offered one final kiss to his beloved fiance before exiting the kitchen and entering the backyard.

As he joined Frederick by the grill, Percy turned his eyes from the grilling meat to the man tending the barbecue. "Was wondering if you needed any help Dr. Chase," the younger man said, rocking back and forth on his heels.

The older man turned and offered a wane smile as he turned back to this task. "I'm doing alright for the time being Percy, and I believe I already told you, it's Frederick."

"Oh, right, sorry," he said, scratching the back of his head as his attention began drifting around the contents of the backyard. A gardening shed set against the left corner of the privacy fence with a small flower garden nestled against the back wall gave the small, yet functional backyard a great degree of character. As his eyes surveyed the landscape, Frederick's voice broke his observations.

"Did you and Annabeth have a good time?"

"Oh, yeah, thanks...never knew one park could have so much to do. Central Park is just sort of, walk around with vendors and hot dog sellers, that place has an aquarium, museums and everything. It was great." he said, his voice making it clear he would enjoy spending more time there when they finally moved to New Rome in the summer.

"I'm glad," Frederick responded, his eyes fixing back to the grill and his task at hand. "Anyway, I'm so very glad you came to visit with Annabeth. I wanted to thank you for all you've done for my daughter," he responded, his eyes lifting to stare through the kitchen window and watch Annabeth tutor the twins in their homework assignment. "I also never got the chance to thank you properly."

"Oh," Percy said, uncertain as to what the older man was referring, he turned his attention towards the ground as he considered how to answer. "Believe me, it was all I wanted, to save her, and she's saved my life as many times as I've saved hers."

Continuing to stare through the kitchen window, Frederick's expression turned thoughtful as he considered the response. "I suppose that's true, however, I was meaning that, because of you my family is whole again.

"Annabeth told me, years ago, that you were the one who convinced her to reach out and give us another chance. I can't express how thankful I am to have that opportunity...to make up for so many things I wish I could undo. And knowing my daughter, I doubt she would have initiated amending our relationship had you not spoken to her about it.

"You must mean a great deal to her," he said, turning his face towards the young man. "Even back then, she would not have listened to you had she not trusted your opinion. It's because of you Percy that I have this opportunity, so, I'm eternally grateful. I only hope I can somehow make every up to her."

Percy stood awkwardly chewing his bottom lip as he listened to Annabeth's father lament over lost opportunities and broken promises. He wasn't sure what to say about the situation until the words tumbled out of him mouth. "What do you want your relationship with Annabeth to be Frederick?"

The scholar contemplated the question for a moment, taking his time to answer as he turned the ribs on the grill. "What I would really like would to just be her father. But I'm not sure I'm deserving of that. She was dropped in my lap, literally, with no warning or preparation. I was a 27 year old doctorate graduate who never even considered having children, let alone being suddenly given one...by a goddess no less. How do you prepare for that?

"Don't get me wrong Percy," Frederick continued, a wane smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm not trying to make excuses for my actions. Annabeth needed me and I did a poor job of protecting her. That's why I'm so very thankful she has you. Truth be told, I've never seen my daughter happier than she is with you..."

"Annabeth doesn't have me Frederick, we have each other."

"Yes, of course," he corrected himself, offering another thoughtful smile to the demigod at his side. "Still, you've made her happy in ways I've only dreamed she'd be. I know I'm not the most accommodating individual when it comes to your lives as demigods, the concept is difficult for me to wrap my head around, if I'm to be perfectly honest. Still, I do have frequent conversations with your mother."

"What? You...you have?"

"I have," he remarked as he pressed his lips into a straight line and focused on the grill, not really seeing the meal he was preparing, but seemingly lost in thought. "Your mother, that is, Sally, has told me everything, she's kept me abreast of how both of you are doing, not only in school but the trauma and night terrors. She even told me about Tartarus."

More silence followed as Frederick turned the foil-wrapped baked potatoes on the upper grill rack before his head drooped in frustration. "I didn't know what that even meant. I'm an academic, I have to find the answers for myself, its just how I am. So when Sally told me about what happened, and what you did to protect my daughter, I wasn't sure how I felt. Part of me was terrified, I didn't understand what that all meant until I researched it myself. I couldn't even bring myself to believe anyone could have survived it, let alone come out sane.

"So your mother and I began a weekly correspondence, checking in on treatment options and I offered plenty of suggestions given my experience in dealing with soldiers with PTSD, but it's different, working with a stranger as opposed to working to save your own daughter and...eventual son-in-law."

Frederick took a heavy breath as he moved to collect the barbecue sauce to glaze the ribs. "I felt like I was right back to where I was when Athena gave Annabeth to me. Like I was in over my head and no matter how much I clawed to try to find stable ground, the world kept shifting under my feet.

"I've done so many things in my life that I'm proud of Percy," the older man said, his visage staring fixedly at the black-haired demigod. "But my biggest regret is that I worry I spoiled my relationship with my daughter. That's why I'm so glad for you Percy, you've given my daughter more happiness and joy that I ever have. And I'm also thankful for Sally, because I'm so grateful Annabeth has someone she can confide in.

"You asked me what I wanted my relationship with Annabeth to be? I want to know that she can turn to me like she does with your mother. I want to be someone that she can confide in and trust. I just don't know if I have that right to ask that of her."

Percy stood silent for several minutes, his mouth moving from side to side as he worked through the conversation with Frederick. He came to terms that deep down, he had resented her father. He had been given the greatest gift in the world, to raise the most remarkable person Percy had ever known, and yet he squandered that opportunity. So much of the hurt and abandonment issues that Annabeth had struggled to overcome was attributed to this man, and yet, another part of him realized that he had no right to condemn him. Frederick was given a responsibility he had never asked for or wanted, and did not realize how much of a fixture Annabeth was in his life until she was gone, and he desperately wanted to make amends, he just didn't know how.

"Then be her dad," Percy said simply, his words startling the older man who turned and furrowed his brow. "If what you say is true, then stop beating yourself up about what's happened and be her dad."

"It's not that easy Percy..."

"Why?" he challenged in response, his jaw set.

"My daughter ran away at the age of seven because I failed to protect her. When she came back, she was a complete stranger to me. Every time she leaves and comes back, she's different than when she left. And I can't help but feel I take some responsibility in that."

"Then take responsibility for it," Percy answered, his own eyes moving to gaze through the window at his beautiful fiance. "You know as well as I do that Annabeth never does anything she doesn't want to do. She's here Frederick, not because of some responsibility to be with her family, or because she would feel guilty living in New Rome and never visiting. She's here because she wants to be. So talk to her, share with her what you want out of your relationship, because I'm telling you, she wants you to be part of her life. She wouldn't be here otherwise."

When Frederick's eyes met Percy's, there was an understanding that seemed to pass between the two men, as a hopeful smile began to dance upon the older man's face. He turned his attention back to the kitchen table where Annabeth raised her eyes to her father and fiance and arched an eyebrow in silent question.

His smile never leaving his face, Frederick looked at the grilling ribs before turning to Percy. "What do you think, are they about done?"

Shrugging, Percy just returned his attention to the grill. "You're the expert, I've never grilled anything before."

"Never?"

"Never had the chance," he said self-consciously as he scratched the back of his head. "I grew up in a Manhattan apartment, fire code usually doesn't let you put a grill on the fire escape."

With his expression turning thoughtful, Frederick held the tongs out for Percy to take before moving to switch positions with the young man. "Perhaps we should fix that," as they were finishing the ribs, Frederick worked to coach Percy on keeping an eye on the temperature, ensuring the char on the ribs did not become too blackened, and the best basting methods to lather the tender feast in barbecue.

At dinner, Annabeth would say it was the best ribs she ever had, and the fact that her brothers went in for thirds seemed to support her claim. Percy had to agree that, despite his academic focus, Frederick cooked a mean meal, made all the better, as Frederick declared, because Percy helped.

-0-

Later that evening, when everyone had retired to bed, Frederick had asked Annabeth to stay behind so that he could speak to her. The two stayed in the living room, talking long into the night about past regrets, anxieties, fears, doubts, and the hope that they could forge a solid bond despite the awkward nature of their relationship.

It was a talk long in coming, each expressing their own guilt for the mistakes of their pasts that ruined so much of their time together, or time they should have had to spend as father and daughter. It was not an easy conversation for either of them, and a lot of hard emotions were emptied into the space between them, but it was a conversation that was needed, and one greatly appreciated. It was a conversation to build a new foundation.

When they said all they needed to say, at least for the moment, they said their good nights and went to bed, and as Annabeth entered her room, she found Percy sitting up on her bed, playing with his ring in an effort to keep his mind occupied. She knew he would still be awake, neither would be able to sleep without their partner beside them.

As Percy's eyes found hers in the dark, a silent question was asked, to which she responded by moving around the edge of the bed and kissing Percy as though she had never kissed him before. Despite her effort to make today special for him, he still managed to give her the greatest gift he could offer, a second chance with her father.

So perhaps this day was more about them, than her treating Percy to a special day. But she was not to be deterred. She would redouble her efforts to make a day solely special for him, because he deserved it, and she deserved...and they deserved it.

-0-

A/N: This actually went a little different than I planned, I had intended Frederick and Percy to have a conversation in the backyard after dinner, and Annabeth actually being there to hear the conversation as she'd have her ball cap on. But I think I liked this approach better, because it kind of parallels Sally's talk with Annabeth when they were making cookies. Also, I've always felt Frederick would likely have a lot of baggage surrounding his relationship with his daughter, and who better to help with that than Percy.

I swear, the more I write these two, the more I love their relationship. I may have mentioned this before but I always hate those stories where Annabeth neglects Percy, or he's too clingy, or she smacks him all the time, it never seems legitimate to me. I like the idea of them being there to support each other, because that's what makes them so great.

Anyway, enough rambling. As always, if you're kind enough to read, please be kind enough to review. Thank you.