Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or any characters involved.

Placing the coffee back on the kitchen table, Sally walked over to her secret cupboard and grabbed a bottle of red wine. Usually she wouldn't resort to alcohol, she always has been and still is against the intake of such addictive and harmful substances, but she desperately needed something to get her through tonight. She walked back and sat down on one side of the couch, placing her legs across as she broke open the seal of the bottle.

Nobody knew of her secret drinking nights when Paul was away on some State-wise teachers meet or a school camping trip. She always made sure to finish all of her work outside and let anyone who could contact her know that she was asleep before she brought out the bottle, afraid of what Paul would think if he found out that she was drinking the very stuff he occasionally preached against in his morning classes.

She knew she would probably drink a little too much tonight, it has been months since she last saw Annabeth and every night without Paul she needed a drink to keep her from doing something worse. It wasn't that Paul didn't spend enough time at home but there was some stuff he just couldn't avoid. And if he went out of his way to stay home, Sally would just feel worse. So despite his protests she pushed him into his Prius and spent the night getting drunk.

Drinking wasn't something new to her, she had been quite the party animal in her younger days. She was famed for being an extremely heavy drinker. Her high school classmates would be shocked to see the present day Party Sally, even more when they hear that she hadn't had a drink in over eighteen years.

The change came for her one cold night at a hospital near Manhattan, when the nurse walked into her ward with a blue bundle and handed it over to her. In the nine months during her pregnancy, Sally's thoughts mostly circled around the fact that she wasn't allowed to drink, and her dreams mainly wandered about the details of the drinking party she was planning to have once her delivery was over, about who she was inviting and what brand of whisky to buy. But when she held the little blue bundle that was baby Percy in her arms, all thoughts of the party went right out the window. And when he opened his eyes a few hours later and caught her finger in is tiny palm, she vowed to herself never to drink again.

She stuck to her vow very well for all these years. She didn't drink when she was abandoned by everyone to raise Percy by herself, she didn't drink during her abusive relationship with Gabe, she didn't drink when Percy was out fighting for the gods in the Titan War, she even didn't drink when Percy disappeared a few months. But now Annabeth is gone as well, and last she heard from camp, the two of them fell into Tartarus.

Sally took another big gulp directly from the bottle, normally she wouldn't immerse herself too deep in these thoughts during her drinking nights, but today a few of them slipped through and now she was drowning in her tears and alcohol.

*DING-DONG*

Sally jumped up from her seat, nobody was supposed to be here right now. She was positive she told everyone who would contact her that she was going to sleep. A little absent minded from the alcohol, she left the bottle by the side of the couch and waddled over to the door. She tried looking through the peephole, but the dark lobby didn't give her much of a hint about the person or persons on the other side of her door. She frowned a little before taking a step back and unlocking the door, swinging it open.

"Hi Mom."

The words and that voice instantly sobered up the brunette as she blinked her eyes at the two teenagers standing at her doorstep. They were completely covered in scars and bruises, like they've stepped out of the infirmary after a long battle. For a second, she considered that she might be hallucinating and all the alcohol she's had over the years is finally getting to her but she needed to eliminate the possibility that Percy was actually there first. She reached out and touched his cheek before doing the same for the blonde by his side. Confirming that her son and her future daughter-in-law were safe, whole and most importantly home, Sally let her tears flow as pulled the two demigods into a tight embrace. Annabeth instantly detected the smell of alcohol coming from Sally but didn't say anything.

"I've waited months. MONTHS! Do you know worried I was?"

"Mom. I cou-"

"And I don't get any information. Can't you just write one lousy letter saying that you're fine? You are friends with Hermes, and you told me he owed you for something. Couldn't you have asked him to send something?" Sally knew she wasn't actually angry and the smile on their faces showed that they knew this as well.

"Sally, we're sor-"

"Not you Annabeth dear. You did nothing wrong."

"Hey! How come my mother is choosing my girlfriend over me?" Percy pointed at Annabeth as he pouted.

"Isn't it obvious that I'd choose her?"

"But-"

"But nothing. You disappeared on us, you don't get a say in this matter. Come inside Annabeth, you came directly from camp didn't you. You must be hungry, I think I still have some leftovers from dinner and some snacks." Annabeth stuck her tongue out at her boyfriend before following the brunette inside.

"Thanks Sally."

"It's nothing at all dear." Percy's mouth lay agape as he watched the interaction between the two women. He shook his head before following them inside and closing the door. He would've joined them in the kitchen but something caught his eye.

"Mom… Have you been drinking?"

The two girls froze on spot. The older woman slowly turned around to face her son.

"Percy… I…"

"Mom, I thought you were always against alcohol."

"I… I'm…" Sally fumbled for words as she tried to explain her past.

"Percy, we can do this in the morning."

Percy stared at the blonde girl for a few seconds. He wasn't against his mother drinking, but he was just curious. And if Annabeth knew and was fine with it, who was he to argue? She was the thinker in their relationship.

"Fine, we'll talk in the morning." The sigh of relaxation his mother let out told him he made the right choice. "Just so you know mom, I'm fine with you drinking. I'm sure you must have needed it for a good reason. I was just curious."

Sally smiled at her son as she walked over and kissed his forehead. She knew she wouldn't need a drink anywhere in the near future. The worst was over.

Later that night as she watched the two sleeping demigods on either side of her, she knew she made the right decision to give up drinking all those years ago in that hospital ward. And no matter how many more times she would be faced with that decision, as long as she had these two, the result would always be the same.

This turned out a little better than I hoped it would. The whole drinking part was not something I originally planned, but I'm glad it worked out that way. Hope you guys like it.

I'll update my Life in Tartarus story soon, please review on that story about how you want me to continue it.

Also, as usual, reviews - flames or otherwise are always welcome. And thanks for the response on this story up until now. See you later guys.