Hello there! If you are not following my stories Spy. Vs. Spy or Late Night Thoughts, then greetings I'm temporarily back from the dead! I'll get to that later!

~Happy Reading!

Percy

Inside the Poseidon cabin, Percy was busy Iris messaging his mother. She has been the only person on his mind for weeks. Not being able to see her or tell her that he was okay killed him. Now he finally got the chance to talk to her.

"I am so relieved that you're safe, dear. You have no idea how worried I was." Sally Jackson's voice wavered off. Her breaths were shaky. Percy knew she was trying really hard to not cry. The guilt he felt in his chest was unbearable. It was all his fault. The pain he was causing her, it was his fault.

"Mom, I'm so sorry.." Percy couldn't find his voice. He felt so ashamed. He never wants to hurt his mom. She was his entire world. "I know sorry can't cover it, but I don't know how to make it up to you…"

"Sweetheart, please don't be sorry. It's not your fault. It's that darned Hera's fault. Please don't be sorry." She managed a smile, making Percy smile in return.

"I miss you so much, mom." Percy's voice shook. He couldn't remember the last time he saw her.

"I miss you too, Percy. But look! There's a surprise waiting for you when you come back." Sally backed away several steps from the mist screen, revealing something that shook Percy to the core.

She had a baby bump.

"Mom! You're-you-you have-you're-"

"That's right, Percy! You're going to be a big brother!" Sally couldn't stop giggling. She was so giddy with joy that Percy's insides were so warm and bubbly. His mom deserved nothing but happiness. "Oh! Paul, dear! Look! It's Percy!"

"IT'S PERCY?!" The male voice from down the hall chimed. "Oh my goodness, Percy! You're safe!" The scruffy, middle-aged man appeared on the screen. His hair had gotten a little grayer since the last time he saw him, and his beard was scruffier than he remembered. Paul looked like he aged a bit since Percy last saw him, but he was still the kind English teacher Percy knew him to be. "It's so good to see you, bud! Are things at camp alright? Have you been okay?"

Have you been okay?

Percy shut his eyes. He feels the demons coming back to him. He didn't want them to know the terrors he's been through recently. He'll just have to stick it out and tell them later. Much later.

"Y-yeah, I've been okay. I see that I'm going to be a brother."

"And Annabeth's going to be their sister! It's so exciting. By the way, she stopped by a lot when you were gone and thank her for the endless support. Without her, we don't think we would have managed." Paul smiled, wrapping an arm around Sally. "Sorry to cut this short Percy, but we do have a checkup to go to. We've got another ultrasound today!"

Percy chuckled. If they were happy, he was happy. Maybe things will actually start turning out okay for once in his life. Besides Annabeth, of course. That was way better than okay.

"I'll see you soon then. I'll come home as soon as I can. Love you, mom. Love you, Paul."

"We love you very much, Percy! Come home soon!" Sally and Paul gave their son one last big smile. With that, Percy waved his hand through the Iris message, disconnecting the call.

Percy was left with the silence of his cabin. He placed his face in his palms, ruffling his hair and pressing his temples. Gods, it was killing him more than usual. He used to not really mind the silence until it started trapping him in his thoughts. He thought of Tartarus, he thought of how he basically tortured his mom for eight months, he thought about all of the demons that could be trying to destroy him in his mind.

"Hey." And the silence was broken. Annabeth stood in the doorway, dressed in a camp shirt and a pair of running shorts. "Sorry I didn't knock. The door was open and-"

"I-it's okay. Can you close it please?" Annabeth shut the door gently and took a seat next to Percy. Percy put an arm around her shoulder, holding her tight and close, pressing a kiss to her temple. He heard Annabeth sigh and felt her shudder.

"Are you okay?" Percy tightened his grip. Nowadays, he was incredibly overprotective of her. Of course, it was just because he's concerned for her safety. He's not a controlling monster boyfriend though. He'd never do that. "What's wrong?"

"Just a lot on my mind," Annabeth replied quietly. "I've been getting a lot of flashbacks. Even in broad daylight, I see all these monsters and I keep thinking they want to attack. They're everywhere, Percy. I'm so tired of being constantly afraid.."

Percy knew he couldn't say anything to make her feel better. He was feeling the same exact way. He just didn't want something stupid to come out of his mouth and she'd take it the wrong way. He doesn't want to hurt her. So, he holds her. He pulls her closer to him and plays with her curls, hoping it would make her feel better. They've been separated for so long, away from comfort, that maybe that's all they needed to feel better.

Who is he kidding? Of course, they need each other, but that won't make them feel better. Not so quickly, anyway.

He has no idea what goes on in her head most of the time. He knows that she was hurt from him leaving. That's a wound that is still taking time to heal. Percy knows this because as independent as his Wise Girl is, she's been clinging to him whenever she could. There have been extra cuddles, handholds, kisses. She's so scared to lose him. He feels so guilty.

And her demons…those demons in her mind. He can see them too. All he wants to do is take them away. Percy just wants to take all of her sufferings away from her. He wants his demons to go away to. He doesn't know about Annabeth, but his demons normally go away when she's with him. She's all he needs to feel safe.

The silence. It's getting to him again. He feels like his lungs are filling up with the musty air of Tartarus and flashbacks in his mind are showing images of the monsters. The monsters are attacking him, they're attacking Annabeth. He flashed back to Annabeth being blind. He flashes back to Bob saving their lives.

"Percy?"

She breaks him out of his thoughts.

"Hm?" He doesn't open his eyes. He doesn't want to.

Annabeth ruffles his hair gently. "Are you okay?"

Are you okay?

The answer is clear. "No."

He feels Annabeth smile a bit on his shoulder. "Me neither."

They continue to sit in each other's arms. They never really had the time to just sit and think about how much damage they've done to themselves. They knew they were damaged, but they never took time to realize just how damaged. They're barely holding it together. They want to explode. They are so, so broken inside.

Yet they keep each other together.

Annabeth shuffled a bit and pressed a kiss to Percy's cheek. "I should get going. It's getting late. Sleep sounds great right now."

Percy took a hold of Annabeth's hand. He tangled their fingers together. "Please stay." He whispered. He was so quiet he wasn't sure Annabeth would hear him. "Please.."

"Percy, you know I can't. The rules, Seaweed Brain.." She's very hesitant. He can hear in her voice that she wants to stay as well.

"Please…" Percy begged. He was near tears. He can't handle the nightmares by himself. He can't handle the demons by himself. "I need you."

Annabeth sighs. She walks back to Percy, pressing her body to his. She gently pulls his head to her chest, protectively putting her arms around him. She's slowly tousling his hair. Percy can hear her heartbeat. It's slow, steady, and comforting.

"Let's climb into bed. C'mon, Seaweed Brain."

Percy lifts the covers and scoots in towards the wall. Annabeth soon follows, slipping under the covers and rests her head on Percy's arm. They cuddle, with Percy placing a protective arm around her waist and Annabeth does the same to Percy.

"I love you," Percy whispers. He softly kisses her lips, her cheek, and then her forehead. He doesn't think he'll ever be able to express exactly how much he loves her. She smiles and snuggles in deeper. She hums in comfort. Percy starts to gently brush her cheek.

"I love you so much more," Annabeth whispers. Several minutes later, her breathing has changed. She's fallen asleep in Percy's arms. As gently as he can, Percy pulls her closer to him. All the way until their bodies are touching. Percy falls asleep soon after. The comfort of having Annabeth in his arms makes sleep come easier.

That night, Percy has no nightmares.

To the young ones out there: don't be like me. Don't write fanfiction during lecture when you're in college haha.

Hello! Yes! I have temporarily risen from the dead because I've found that writing fanfiction is one of the best ways to procrastinate in college. And yes, it's been a while, because the last time I updated this story I was a junior in high school and here I am a sophomore in college! Wow! Time flies!

Just as I said in Late Night Thoughts, thank you so much for waiting. Yes, I will try to finish this story as best as I can as well, but the catch is that it will be rather short. I am just trying to finish whatever stories I can. Thank you so much for waiting these past couple of years, I will update as soon as I can!

Review this maybe? Thanks!