I'm not replying to reviews today. I'm sorry but I don't have the mental headspace. The only reason I'm updating is because I'd feel bad just not updating without giving a reason. I've had some really really upsetting news today and while I'm not giving up the story I likely won't be updating every day- I'll update whenever I feel capable and I may update one story but not the other if that's all I feel up to. I don't know right now. I'll really appreciate everyones patience with me and please do keep reviewing. I'm going to need reasons to smile. Because one of the family dogs has been diagnosed with a tumor and while I don't know any details yet I've been told that there's nothing they can do for him so you can imagine I'm not in a good place right now.
Sorry and I do love you guys.
The last day of school went well, all things considered. Percy didn't even give into temptation and slap Haley when she made a comment about Annabeth being a gold digging suck up. Besides, Annabeth had handled it quite well in Percy's opinion. She was sure she'd always cherish the memory of the look on Haley's face when Annabeth had smirked at her and said. "You're just jealous that I get to jet around the world with them while your mom and dad don't even want to take you on their holiday to Spain because you're so annoying to be around."
She'd then apologised as soon as they'd gotten out of hearing range of the girl, gushing that she wanted to make sure they knew she wasn't just their friend for the holidays and Percy had laughed so hard that her sides had hurt. And before that she'd thought that was just a stupid saying!
And Annabeth's blush when Percy and Piper had both kissed her cheeks had been adorable. Honestly Percy wouldn't give up her friendship with the girls for the world. They meant so much to her that it was hard to put it into words.
And when they got home from school Percy led the way up the metal stairs, Piper, Annabeth and Felix close behind her, shortly followed by the other residents of Brooklyn House that still attended the school.
And Percy let them in, grinning as two familiar tiny figures came sprinting across the Great Room, covered in flour- which undoubtedly meant that Sally was in the middle of baking up the traditional first day of summer cookies.
And Percy didn't care that she got flour all over herself as she crouched and they collided with her, both of the twins cheering happily, "PERCY!"
And Percy laughed brightly as she wrapped her arms around the twins and scooped them both up into her arms. "There's my favorite twins! Have you been good for mommy?"
"Yeah!" Alex chirped, a wide grin on his lips, "We's been helpin' mommy with the cookies!"
"'Lex put lots and lots of 'toclate." Estelle told Percy seriously. And Percy couldn't help but smile softly at the twins, who were each gripping at her shoulders.
"And did you put the blue food coloring by any chance?" Percy asked with a small grin, she could see the blue staining on Estelle's sleeves.
"I did." Estelle gasped, her eyes wide, "How'd you know-"
"Because, squirt." that came from Sadie, who dropped her hand onto Estelle's head, ruffling her hair lightly as she walked past, "You're almost as blue as dad. Now I have to go and get dressed. Walt's taking me out on a date somewhere. I wonder if it'll be a graveyard." she winked before rushing off.
"Am I b'oo?" Estelle's eyes widened as she looked down at her sleeves and her hands- which definitely did have a blue tint- she'd probably shoved her hands into the cookie mix with the food dye. "I am!"
And Alex grinned, "That's so cooooool! 'Stelle I wanna be b'oo like daddy too- there's b'oo paint in the artsy room!"
"No!" Percy laughed, shifting her grip on the twins as Annabeth and Piper both laughed at the panicked look on Percy's face. "No b'oo- I mean blue, paint for you two trouble makers." she told them both. "Mommy would kill me if I let you do that."
"Aweeee." Estelle pouted slightly. "But we want to be like daddy."
"Not on my watch." Percy glanced back at Annabeth and Piper "You guys go get changed ready to go visit uncle H. I'll meet you guys down here once I've dealt with my little blue gremlins."
"Of course." Annabeth's lips were twitching- and there was a slight sad gleam in her eyes.
Percy knew that Annabeth was probably thinking about her own brothers- on the mortal side.
Annabeth had told Piper and Percy about them- they'd been babies when she'd ran away from home. She'd briefly gone back- wanting to give it another chance when Matthew and Bobby- who were also twins, which Percy suspected was part of the reason Alex and Estelle reminded her of them, were around two. But she hadn't stayed for very long.
She was considering a visit to her father in Virginia- Percy and Piper had done some research, apparently he was still in the same home as he always had been. And Percy and Piper had sworn to Annabeth that they would go with her if she did decide to visit- she wouldn't have to stay with him and she sure as hell wouldn't have to spend even a moment with her family alone if she wasn't comfortable with that. And there was no pressure for her to go with them either.
In any case Percy knew that Annabeth had a soft spot for the twins- then again everyone did. They were hard not to love. As shown by the fact that Piper grinned, "Of course- but first, I want a quick hug."
"Piper hugs!" Alexander squealed the words, and Percy let Piper steal him from her to have a brief cuddle, before she switched back for Estelle.
And once Piper had her fill of twin cuddles she and Annabeth rushed off to their rooms to go get changed while Percy carried her baby siblings to the kitchen, where her mom was, as expected, working on several very large batches of cookies.
And Percy smiled softly at the sight as her gaze focused on her mom, she had flour in her hair and on her cheek, and she smiled widely when Percy walked into the kitchen, the corner of her eyes crinkling slightly.
"Welcome home honey. I see the terrible twosome found you." her voice was amused, and Alex beamed at that, as Estelle giggled.
"Mommy! I wanna be b'oo like daddy." that came from Alex, "Can we goes paint ourselves?"
"No you cannot." Sally laughed as she moved towards them, plucking the twins from Percy's arms before kissing her daughters cheek. "How was the last day of school?"
"Pretty normal." Percy shoved her hands into her pockets, rocking back on her heels. "I managed not to get in trouble even once today."
"Well that's a minor miracle." Sally teased gently, a fond smile crossing her lips. "Where are Annabeth and Piper?"
"I sent them to get changed while I deposited the twins back with you mom. I'll have to go get changed in a sec- we told uncle H we'd visit him today. And as much as he denies it I know he gets lonely during the summer. Besides we're gonna check that everything's okay on the Greek front. Annabeth's dreams have been getting at her a lot."
Sally's brows furrowed at that. "Did she have another one last night? I know when I walked past her room this morning before you all woke up her door was open and she wasn't in there."
"She and Pipes crashed with me." Percy sighed. "I don't mind helping her sleep- seriously it's easy for me to do it, I just-" she shook her head, "I worry about her mom."
"Of course you do." Sally smiled fondly, "You're a very caring person honey. You worry about the people you love. It's just who you are. But I'm sure everything will be fine. Nightmares are pretty normal you know that."
"I do." Percy agreed. "I know. I've dealt with them myself I just- have a horrible feeling that this is something more." she hesitated "Over the years I've learned to trust my gut." she said slowly, "It doesn't usually steer me wrong."
"And your gut is telling you that there's something wrong." Sally's gaze met Percy's, and Percy knew her mom, it always felt like she was looking into the very depths of Percy's soul when she looked at her like that. "Oh honey." Sally sighed heavily. "You do whatever you have to do. Just- come home and let us know what's going on before you go running off. I know I might not be able to go with you- and Carter and Sadie might not be able to either but we want to know what's going on- and you know that if it came down to it. The boundary between our two worlds might be important- the boundary between Egyptian and Greek but- it isn't nearly as important as you."
"Iskander once told me I might be the bridge between the two worlds." Percy's voice was quiet. "He thought I'd be the connection that would allow the two worlds to work together some day. I was so scared when he told me that-"
"Percy scared?" Alex's voice was small, worried and he pouted slightly, "'S not right. Percy's never scared."
"Yeah." Estelle frowned "You're the bravest ever."
"Oh you two are too sweet." Percy felt some tension easing from her shoulders. "I'm talking about something that happened years ago. You don't need to worry about me." but still- it was a nervewracking thought, the idea that she'd be tying two worlds together, that they'd either become allies or enemies based on her actions- and it was very possible that that was what would happen.
And she caught her mom's eye, and Sally gave her a very gentle smile.
"Percy- honey I know it's big and terrifying- but if Iskander was right. If it's that time then I want you to know that I don't think anyone could do a better job. You're my bright brilliant special girl"
"Mom!" Percy's face went bright red and she laughed, "You're ridiculous."
Am I now? Go, off with you before I decide to put your siblings down and cuddle you to death."
"Maybe after I get back from visiting uncle H." Percy let out a laugh before she darted out of the kitchen, the twins whines fading behind her as she rushed to her bedroom.
Sure technically there was nothing wrong with the clothes she was wearing- jeans and a tee, but she always got changed after school, it was a habit more than anything- besides it was summer, time for all things fun, though- since there was a chance they'd go see Cerberus Percy should probably go for shorts rather than a dress or a skirt.
She hummed to herself, moving quickly and pulling on a pair of light blue shorts and a short sleeved white top.
She nodded to herself when she was done- she looked and felt ready to fuss a giant three headed puppy to her hearts content, and also ready to ask Hades about whatever might be going on in the Greek Panetheon that could be causing Annabeth's dreams.
She shoved her hands into her pockets and quickly made her way to the Great Room, where Annabeth and Piper were already waiting, both of them wearing shorts and tees.
"Hey Percy." Piper grinned, "What took you so long?"
"I had a quick talk with mom before I got changed." Percy told them. "She's making lots of cookies for everyone and the twins were being the twins."
"How much do you want to bet that when we get back they'll be painted blue?" Annabeth was grinning and Percy snickered, "That my dear genius, is a suckers bet and not worth taking."
"She is not wrong." Piper laughed, "Estelle's already halfway there."
"They just want to look like dad." Percy gave an innocent smile, "You can hardly blame them for looking up to their daddy now, can you?"
"You're just saying that because you find it funny." Annabeth grinned slightly, shaking her head, "Honestly I feel sorry for your mom. The only truly sane one amongst you is Carter-"
"Hey, Estelle's at least semi sane." Percy pointed out.
"No, no Estelle's just got a good little brain there." Annabeth corrected, "She's just as willing to do the crazy things, and she's usually the one who comes up with the plans. Alex gets the ideas, Estelle makes it work."
"You do realise you're talking about three year olds." Piper pointed out, lips twitching, "You'd think you were talking about con artists or something-"
"Are you kidding?" Percy laughed, "Last week Alex and Estelle conned Sadie and Carter into taking them out for ice cream twice in one day. And then they tried to convince me that they hadn't been at all. It was only Zia bumping into us that gave their little genius scheme away. Those two are con artists."
"Adorable ones." Piper laughed, "They know how to get what they want I know that much. So, shall we head out?"
"Annabeth-"
"I know the drill." Annabeth reached out, gripping Piper's shoulder tightly.
She might have visited Hades a few times, but he'd yet to offer her a bracelet like Percy and Pipers, which meant that she had to hold on to one of them whenever they visited him.
And so Percy quickly unclasped the charm from her bracelet.
After all. Hades was expecting them.
