Annabeth
After her scream pierced her ears, all had fallen into silence. A bright white light crept across her vision. Her body shaking violently.
She heard muffled voices. Yet her vision was still stained white. Color slowing crept back.
She found herself back, standing in front of Percy's apartment. Feeling came into her feet. A wave of pain crashed over her body sending her sprawling to the ground with a cry. She curled up into a ball and sobbed. Trying to shake the memory of Percy's lifeless body lying in her arms. The single tear that slipped down his cheek before his heart slowly stopped beating. Her hands slid up to her ears trying to block out the voice that threatened to creep back into her head.
Shivers went down her spine. Her body shook and pained sobs escaped her lips.
She wished the ground would open and swallow her whole.
I cold frail hand grabbed her arm. She jerked away screaming, pulling her knees tight to her chest she tried to get a grip on herself.
"Annabeth! I need you to calm down! Please!" his voice rang in her ears.
She let out a few more sobs.
"Annabeth!"
She took in shuddered breaths trying to clear her head. Everything was silent. Her breaths shallowed. She felt arms wrap around her and pull her into a tight embrace.
Her hands fell from her ears.
"I know…" he said, "It happened to me too,"
Her stomach twisted into tight knots. She choked down the vile sour taste that had gathered in her mouth.
She pulled away from the embrace.
Percy sat sprawled on the ground alongside her. Her eyes scanned his body. Searching for blood. Lastly her eyes landed on his. A relieved gasp left her seeing his bright sea green eyes.
"You were dead- there was this voice- you died-" she stuttered hysterically.
"I know it happened to me too," there was pain in is expression. "I had to watch you, wander aimlessly like-" his voice faltered, "Like you did in Tartarus, and there was nothing I could do,"
"Did you hear it too? The voice?" she asked. He nodded. His expression grim, his eyes seemed dampened. They were still bright green. But the world had seemed to wipe away his joy that he used to have. She remembered the carefree boy that had stumbled into Camp Halfblood. His innocence, and the bewilderment of all made her heart ache. Seeing him now… stripped… broken.
"None of that was real…" he said, his gaze trailing over to the house. "My mother.. Paul.." he looked back at Annabeth. Their gazes locked. "Except you…" his frown deepened.
"Are you in pain?" she asked him.
He scanned his own body for injuries. "Everything hurts… but I'm fine. What about you?"
"Same thing as you. But I didn't experience as much suffering as you did." he flinched.
Her drew himself up from the ground and offered her outstretched hand.
As he pulled her to her feet, she could see the pain in his movements. He didn't complain.
He wrapped an arms around her, staring up at his home.
Percy
He drew in a shaky breath and laced his fingers through Annabeth's. She squeezed his hand tightly. Together they went up the steps. Percy reached forward and hesitantly placed his hand on the knob and twisted it, swinging open the door.
They walked through the door, shutting it behind them. Percy's parents sat at the table. Disbelief painted across their features. Sally stood up from her seat. Her cheeks flushed.
"Oh my god… Percy!" her voice quaked. Percy stood in the doorway. Motionless. Ashamed.
"Hi mom." he said barely meeting his mother's eyes. Paul was now standing beside her. They both stood and gawked at their son. He was home. "We… we didn't know if you were still alive.. or.. or what happened to you!" His mother threw her arms around Percy and gripped him tightly, afraid he might disappear if she let go. Paul joined in and hugged them both.
Annabeth stood behind them lingering in the doorway. Percy pulled away from embrace still shaken up from the past events. Realization crept into Sally's face as she looked behind Percy.
"Oh! Annabeth!" She squeaked. Sally threw her arms around Annabeth.
Paul clapped Percy on the back, "I'm glad your home safe...son,"
Percy flinched. Paul had not yet called him son, but his mother and Paul had been together for a little longer than a year now. A year.
A small cry startled Percy. Sally gasped and gripped Percy's arm and pulled him down the hall.
They walked into his parent's room, and in the corner sat a small crib. Another small whimper came from the corner. Percy gaped at his mother. She pushed him towards the crib.
Percy peaked over the edge letting his eyes adjust to the dark. He peered down at the now cooing figure. A smile spread across his face.
"Estelle…" he breathed. He scooped his arms into the crib and carefully lifted her into his arms. Estelle giggled and reached her hand up to Percy's face. "I'm your big brother," he rocked back and forth, still holding her as if she were a china doll.
He stood there and watched her. And she watched him back. He didn't know how long he had been standing there holding her, but he didn't really care.
His gaze swooped to his mother. "How...how old.. is she?" He was hardly able to get the words out.
She grimaced and watched him carefully cradle her. "Five months old," she responded.
Percy took in a breath, his eyes crept up to Annabeth. Percy turned back to his mother and gently gave the child back to his mother.
A cold hand slid down Percy's arm and into his hand. A sharp shiver went down his spine as he gripped Annabeth's hand.
"I bet you two are starving," Sally commented. "We could eat." Annabeth's voice sounded tired and scratchy. She looked as though she was dull to the world.
Sally passed Estelle to Paul who had, at some point, lingered in. "I'll go heat up some leftovers." she quickly left the room, giving Percy a tight squeeze on the arm before she left.
Annabeth
Percy and Annabeth sat on the couch in the living room. She was curled up to Percy under a blanket, staring out the window.
A white owl with spots, the same one she could have sworn they had seen before, flew past the window. She sucked in a breath. Percy squeezed her hand, "I saw it too,"
Good. She thought. At least I'm not crazy.
