Not much action in this chapter, but I hope you all enjoy it anyway, as always pretty please leave reviews I thrive on them guys. And to the person who asked- Thalia didn't join the hunters, she's gone past sixteen years old but she realised that the prophecy was talking about someone specific rather than the first big three kid to reach sixteen.
And also, yes the phones are Leo's monsterproof ones
The journey back to Manhattan was a sombre one. None of them talked about what had happened in the Castellan house- though Leo watched the three other Demigods worriedly.
By the time they arrived it was approaching midday and when they set down in the garden Sally came rushing outside, her eyes wide with shock- clearly she hadn't expected them.
"Percy! Luke! Leo! Rachel!" her eyes were wide as she rushed up to them, pulling Percy and Luke into a tight hug, her hand resting on the backs of their necks, pulling them in close.
"Mom." Percy latched onto her tightly, pressing her face into her moms shoulder as Luke wrapped his arms around them both, clearly making the most of the moment of comfort- he might be a grown man now but- well, even adults sometimes needed comfort from their mom.
"I was so worried about both of you on that mission- I don't know what it was you were doing but I know it was dangerous. I- thank the gods you two didn't get hurt. Honestly I just hate all this-"
"We got out fine." Luke promised, pressing a kiss to the top of Sally's head, "We're safe mom."
"I'm so glad." Sally pulled back, letting go of them so she could sweep Leo into a hug, "Oh my little Leo- I've missed you too sweetheart. Is this Festus? The dragon you told me all about- he's very impressive. I didn't realise how big he was when you described him."
"Yeah mom." Leo grinned widely, "This is Festus- he's great isn't he."
"He certainly is." Sally's gaze swung to Rachel, "And Rachel- darling your father's called me a few times asking if you were here-"
"Ugh." Rachel groaned, "I snuck out last night after some weird dreams-"
"I gathered as much." Sally gave Rachel a very small smile, "Should I call him back and tell him you're staying here for a few days-"
"I would love you forever and ever if you did that Sally. Seriously, like, eternal gratitude."
"Don't expect me to do it all of the time though- I'd rather have you close though- with-"
"With what's coming." Percy finished her moms sentence and Sally nodded.
"Yes. With what's coming."
"I'll stay with you guys." Rachel gave a tight smile, "I'd rather be with you than with my dad." pulled a knife out from where it had been strapped to her arm beneath her sleeve and she aimed it carefully, tossing it so that it hit the wall of the house, embedding itself into it. "That way I know I can help protect you even if I can't do anything else."
Sally gave Rachel a knowing look, "You don't need to worry about us darling, we're hardly defenceless."
"I'd rather know you're safe." Rachel's voice was firm, "And I might not be a demigod but I'm a pretty good fighter these days-"
"It's true." that came from Leo, who had moved back to Festus and had pulled some tool or another out of his belt so that he could do- well, do something to the giant dragon. "She can kick my ass. Not that I'm a fighter."
"Pretty sure you don't need to be a fighter when you have a giant fire breathing metal dragon." Rachel remarked, eyeing Festus, "I am so painting him later-"
"Oh my gods can you paint him as a birthday present for me?" Leo asked hopefully, "Like, I would never ever stop being grateful if you did. You'd be my hero."
"Your birthday is almost a year away Leo, it's in July! It's literally just over a month since your last birthday. Are you really asking for next years present already."
"It could totally be a late birthday present, I'm your girlfriends little brother you should want to make me like you right?" Leo asked with a very cheeky grin.
"I painted Calypso for you this year after you described her to me." Rachel pointed out, giving Leo a knowing look. "And I literally spent hours and hours with you describing her to me so I got it right."
"And it is a lovely painting." Leo got a dreamy look on his face, "You really did capture her perfectly- those eyes-" he sighed happily, "Isn't she just so beautiful?"
"Ugh. You're sickeningly sweet." Percy declared, "I couldn't ever be like it personally-"
"Awe- love of my life." Rachel's voice was light, "Shall we go and call the beloved third member of our relationship and tell her how very in love we are-"
"You disgust me!" Leo flailed, "All happy in love while I have to pine from afar before I can find a way to go rescue the love of my life-" but Rachel had already grabbed Percy's
hand and they were laughing as they escaped from the infuriated some of Hephaestus.
They headed straight inside, making their way up to Percy's room, and Percy kicked the door shut behind them, giggling as she rushed her her bed flopping down on it- and she felt the bed bounce as Rachel tossed herself onto it next to her.
"When he does rescue her he is going to be so much worse than us." Rachel declared, her voice amused, "He's gonna be so so very much worse than us."
"Yeah, yeah he is." Percy smiled softly, forcing back a rush of sadness because she'd probably never get to see that." she played with the ring on her thumb absent-mindedly, staring up at her ceiling.
Rachel much have noticed because Percy felt the bed shifting slightly again and Rachel was reaching out, grabbing Percy's hand and squeezing tightly.
"Percy-"
"Don't." Percy felt her eyes burning, "Please Rache."
There was a moment of quiet and then Rachel whispered, "I love you. I love you and Annabeth so much Percy you know that right?"
"I know." Percy tried to keep her voice steady. "When the time comes you and Annabeth need to look after each other. And them too. I know I already said it but-"
"I know." Rachel's voice cracked, "Gods Percy. You're not even sixteen and we're planning what to do if you-"
"Please- I don't- I don't want to think about this any more I don't want to- I can't." she'd never see Will and Nico grow old together, never meet Calypso- the girl who made
her baby brother into the most romantic sap she'd ever met.
She'd never get to meet the baby growing inside of her mom even now.
And worst of all- she'd never get to grow old with her girlfriends- she'd never get go to all the school dances with them, no more romantic dates, they'd grow old without her. Sure she'd see them again some day in the afterlife but- gods the thought of it was painful.
She was yanked out of her thoughts by Rachel yanking her so that she rolled onto her side so that they were both led face to face and then Rachel was pressing their lips together, tangling her fingers into Percy's short hair, and Percy found herself kissing back with a sort of desperation- she didn't have much time left. She might as well make the most of what time she had. And what harm could a few stealthy stolen kisses do?
When Rachel pulled back she rested their foreheads together, "I think I'll paint you like this." she said suddenly, "I'll paint you like this- I'll remember this moment and I'll paint you and I'll keep it forever."
"I love your paintings." Percy whispered, "My favorite is the one you did of all three of us-"
"That time on the beach." Rachel smiled softly, "That was a good day-"
"The best." Percy smiled sadly, "I haven't had a bad run, all things considered. Pretty good for a demigod really- and if I go out saving the world- at least I know I'll be dying so everyone I love gets the chance to live. I want you to know that I won't regret anything okay? I won't. I'll be happy-"
"I know." Rachel's expression was sad, "You- I've known for a long time that you wouldn't hesitate to give up your life to save other people." she shifted, pressing her lips to Percy's again, "I knew it would end in tragedy but I still fell in love with you. And I bet Annabeth knows too. I bet she's known for longer than I have that it'd all go down in flames. You're too good. Too perfect. People like you-"
"Life fast die young." Percy felt oddly peaceful now- "I'll regret the pain it'll cause- I'll be sad I didn't get to see- but- if I have to die I can't think of a better way to go than saving the world-"
"If anyone can do it, it's you." Rachel huffed out a laugh, curling Percy's hair around her fingers, "Are you feeling up to Iris messaging Annabeth? It's what we told the others we were going to do, and she'll want an update too."
"Right." Percy nodded, pushing herself so that she was sat up, "We should probably do that."
And it took them less than five minutes to set up the call, and when the image cleared up to show Annabeth in the rainbow she was clearly sat in her Cabin, leaning over a laptop, her brows furrowed- and Rachel grinned widely at the sight.
"Well I'm painting that later-" and Annabeth jumped, her head turning sharply and her eyes widening, a wide smile spreading across her lips when she saw the two other girls.
"Seaweed brain! Rache! Thank the gods you two are okay-"
"We're fine. We decided to head home after finding Rache."
"Rachel what were you thinking?" Annabeth's voice was worried, "You ran off in the middle of the night- I was so worried when Percy told me."
"I had weird dreams- I knew I needed to see Luke's mom so I just- went. Not that I know if it really did much good-"
"I dunno." Percy remembered May's words, she thought about the strange ring on her finger- she wasn't sure what was going to happen- or why they were so important, but she knew they were. "I think some stuff might clear up later-" she ignored the confused look Rachel gave her as she brushed her fingers through her hair. "Anyways- back on
topic. We'll probably be back later today I guess- Rache is gonna stay with mom and Paul."
"That's good." Annabeth nodded, "I'd rather you stuck together honestly it just feels safer."
"I feel like it's the right thing to do too- even if my dad is going to murder me for it." Rachel snorted, "I'm sixteen- I'm old enough to get some say on if I go on holiday with them or not." she rolled her eyes, "As if I don't have more important things going on."
"Life's definitely not easy when you know what's really out there." Annabeth sighed, "And Percy- as much as I want you guys home-" she hesitated, "Is there any chance you can check out stuff around Central Park- I know we've sent people there to do it but- there's still no sign of Grover. Gleeson Hedge's latest report to him- I just- I'm worried."
And Percy felt her heart sink, "I know." she admitted, "I've tried reaching out to him through the empathy link but I haven't had any luck. I- if he died I'd know it I'm sure- he felt it when the volcano thing happened, I'd have felt it if he got hurt or something. I just- I don't know what's happened to him."
"Well last we heard from him he was in Central Park and since you're in the city- is there any chance you guys could check it out?"
"We can probably have a look around." Percy said, nodding slowly, "I'll do the best I can I promise."
"Thank you." Annabeth smiled softly, "Chiron said he'll want you back by tomorrow evening but you can take a day or so to look for Grover-"
"Wish you were here too-"
"I'm needed in camp, even if it sucks." Annabeth pulled a face, "Besides, last time you, Grover and me were in Central park it did not go well-" she let out a laugh as Percy grinned widely.
"I would have to disagree with you there Wise girl. It happens to be one of my fondest memories-"
"Let me guess." Rachel let out a long suffering sigh, "Percy did something stupidly brave and heroic."
"That was the time she decided to challenge Ares to a fight-"
"And I whooped his godly ass." Percy piped up, "Don't you forget that part. If you want I'll show you exactly where the fight happened."
"Sounds like a plan." Rachel threaded their fingers together, "It'll be a treat."
