Aaaaand the fourth part is here! *drums please*
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Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Memories
Thoughts
Lyrics
The song is I'll Stand by You, sung by Carrie Underwood
Daughter to Father
Part four
I'll stand by you
The next time Percy saw her dad, it came as an absolute surprise. A birthday surprise, to be exact. The last time they had met he told her they may not speak for quite some time, so she definitely did not expect him to ring the bell, just as she was preparing to blow the candles on her nineteenth birthday cake.
So when the door opened, she barely held back her cry of surprise as she saw her father standing there, dressed in his usual Bermuda shorts and Hawaian shirt. He was smiling, eyes twinkling in amusement as he took in Sally's bright blush.
"Hello, Sally, you look as beautiful as ever. May I come in?" He asked smoothly and Percy had to hold back her laughter as her mother made a squeacking sound. She couldn't believe her eyes. Poseidon had come to her birthday. Her dad, the god of the sea, was actually in her mom's apartment. On her birthday.
"Ah, there is my girl!" He exclaimed as his eyes landed on her and Percy quickly straightened from her frozen state leaning over the blue cake. "Sally, Paul, Tyson, do you mind if I borrow Percy for a moment?" For the demigoddess surprise, her dad put his arm around her and steered her towards the kitchen, where they could finally talk in private.
Oh why you look so sad
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry Let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too
Poseidon let his cheerful mask slip away the moment they were away from her family's eyes. He knew this was probably their last chance to talk before the war raged on with it's full force. He had needed to see her, to check out if she was alright after everything that had happened in the last few months. He saw the difference in her as he took in her face. She looked older, weary somehow, as if she had aged greatly too fast. There were dark circles under her eyes, subtle but there, that spoke of lack of sleep or nightmares.
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
Poseidon's heart ached for her, wishing that he could do something to releave her of the heavy burden that rested on her shoulders. None nineteen years old girl should worry about war and death and face all the horrors and pain she had. He rembered the promise he had made to himself to protect her, and now, just looking at her, he knew he had failed.
"How are you, Percy?" She opened her mouth to answer, but he interrupted her. "Be honest please."
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
His daughter sighed and collapsed on one of the kitchen chairs, rubbing her face with both hands.
"I'm managing, I guess. I have nightmares about the battle." Her voice hitched slightly. "So many died... I wish I have done something more. I wish I had done something to prevent it."
Poseidon sighed, taking the seat across her, so he could look into her eyes.
"There was nothing more you could have done Percy." He said soothingly, knowing that she was suffering from the guilt that came with being unable to protect those you care about. The same guilt he struggled with every time he looked at her. They sat in silence for a while before the sea god finally broke it. "I heard stories of what happened." He admitted, remembering what his servants had reported him, each story more horrifying than the previous. "Tell me everything, Percy. I want to hear it from you."
So if you're mad get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
Percy sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, steeling herself. And then she started talking. Poseidon kept his eyes on her face, watching as her expressions changed rapidly though the whole story, from anger to fear and sorrow, her eyes filling with tears as she told of the battle in Camp Half-Blood and all the demigods they had lost.
Ever since their first meeting, Poseidon had reached one realization. He hated seeing his daughter cry. And he knew she hated it as well as he watched her wipe the tears away furiously, though for a different reason. She hated showing weakness, he knew. But there was no weakness in tears. Percy was strong and he couldn't help but admire her for it. She was stubborn and brave and way more loyal to her friends than she should. That was her fatal flaw. Personal loyalty, one of the most dangerous of them all and yet the one flaw that was truly honorable.
"There is no shame in crying, Percy." He said gently catching her arm before she could reach up to wipe the traitorous tears away. She looked at him with watery eyes and he felt his heart break for her. Before he knew what he was doing, Poseidon stood from his chair and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. This was the first time he hugged his daughter, he realized, a little ashamed.
When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
Cause even if you're wrong
Percy was still for a moment, shocked by the sudden gesture, before burying her head in his shirt, sobbing, seeking the comfort he had to offer. He held her quietly, rubbing circles on her back, not really sure how comfort her.
"Shhh, it's alright, Percy, everything's going to be alright." He whispered, feeling her stiffen slightly, before she pulled away.
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
"I'm sorry." She sniffled slightly, using her sleeve to wipe away the remain of her tears.
"It is alright." Poseidon said quickly, suddenly at loss of what to say. The demigoddess was silent, using the moment to collect herself, before clearing her throat.
"Dad, Tyson told me of the old sea gods," She started softly. "What is going on in the ocean?" Poseidon shifted uneasily, not wanting to burden her further with bad news. "Dad, please, tell me."
"The war came to me first, Percy." He sighed. "In fact, because of that I cannot stay long. Even now the ocean is at war with itself. It is all I can do to keep hurricanes and typhoons from destroying your surface world, the fighting is so intense."
"Let me come down there," She pleaded. "Let me help!"
The sea god could not help but smile at her determination and courage. She had soon came out of a terrible battle that still haunted her dreams and yet she was ready to jump head first in another one.
And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
"Not yet, Percy. You are still needed here." Suddenly, he remembered about the sand dollar and took it out of his pocket, pressing it into her palm. "Happy birthday, Percy. Spend it wisely." He saw confusion dawn on her face. He knew she would understand when the time came. She was a clever girl after all.
"Dad," She started, her expression troubled. "When I was in the maze, I met Antaeus. He said," She paused for a while, almost reconsidering but then forced herself to continue. "Well, he said he was your favorite child. He decorated his arena with skulls and-"
But Poseidon already knew what she was going to say. He could read the disgust and doubt was evident in her gaze.
"He dedicated them to me." He supplied, watching her struggle with the words. "And you wonder how someone could do something so horrible in my name." She nodded, clearly uncomfortable and Poseidon reached out to put a hand on her shoulder. "Percy, lesser beings do many horrible things in the name of the gods but that does not mean we gods approve. The way our sons and daughters act in our names...well, it speaks more for them than it does for us." He couldn't help but smile. "And you, Percy, are my favorite child." Her eyes sparkled for a moment and she gave him a radiant grin, slightly reminding him of the first toothless smile she had showed him, almost nineteen years ago.
"Percy, the candles are melting." He heard Sally call out and knew that their time was over.
"I should go." He said, standing up. "Enjoy your cake and good luck, my daughter." With that he allowed himself to disappear, back to the ocean where a war raged.
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'm working on the fifth and last part right now, so expect it soon.
Please, please, PLEASE review!