"Look back, and smile on perils past." — Walter Scott

Chapter IV:

They stood outside the apartment together. Hand in hand, faces wrought with excitement and uncertainty.

It felt like a lifetime had passed since he had last been here. But not a day had gone by without him thinking about it. Flooding back were all the memories, his eyes filling at the significance of the moment.

There was never a set date when he knew he would be ready to return. To see them. To step inside the city. He just trusted that he would know when the time was right. And when he woke up the night before, in a pool of cold sweat, having dreamt a certain dream, he knew then that it was now.

In anticipation, his foot bounced as he knocked on the door.

Piper gave him a small smile, which he returned.

When the door opened, they were greeted by a woman so familiar it hurt. She seemed shorter, but it was more likely that he had gotten taller. The brown in her hair was accompanied by gray now, but the spark in her eyes was as sharp as ever. Standing behind her was the man that gave her a second joy in life, in his arms a tiny girl that cried Percy's name.

There were no more words needed, the crushing embrace that followed was all that was necessary.

-Ω-

It came as no surprise that it felt good to be back near familiar waters. Standing over the Montauk sound, arms outstretched, Percy allowed the breeze to flow over him. There was something about saltwater that connected with him on levels even he did not quite know. The sense of freedom, the feeling of power, the idea of infinity, was all captured in the idyllic waves.

Not long was it until he felt a strong pull beside him, the scent of the sea increasing tenfold as with a flash, a man appeared beside him.

Some time passed before either of them spoke, standing together first in silence, content to just watch the waves crash against the sand. Of the words that were eventually said, none carried as much weight as the smiles each of them shone. And of those smiles, none were as wide as the last.

The water grew clearer when the Lord of the Seas returned to his domain. The sand, ever so slightly warmer.

Above, the sun began to set, accompanied by soft footfalls that approached Percy from behind, the scent of something sweet hitting his nostrils.

When Piper appeared, he took her by the hand, willing the water to swallow them.

Soon, they were indiscernible from the waves.

Author's Note:

Hope you enjoyed :)