The door swung open, and they were met with the smiling face of Sally Jackson grinning up at them. "Percy! You're home so soon." Her brow creased in confusion, even as she reached up and planted a kiss on her son's cheek. That was until she caught sight of Annabeth and all traces of concern vanished from her face. "Annabeth!" Annabeth found herself suddenly pulled into a tight embrace with her face pressed into a shimmering curtain of glossy brown hair. When Sally pushed her away and studied her in that maternal fashion, she smiled. "Come in guys. I have cookies in the oven."
It was only once she and Percy were sitting comfortably at the kitchen table with steaming cups of hot cocoa and a plate of freshly-baked cookies before them, did Sally finally sit with them and regarded them with a curious, but kind look on her face. She nudged the plate towards them. "Eat." Tentatively, Annabeth stretched a hand out towards the platter. She snatched one up, but didn't consume it straight away. Instead, she placed it before and folded her hands in her lap. She felt a little awkward here now, back after so many months. It worried her that to Sally, Annabeth might now be a constant reminder of the pain of her son's long disappearance. Despite the fact that both women had held each other and comforted each other throughout those long, bleak months, it was impossible to deny that, although she was pleased to see her, Sally's face reminded her too much of the pain she had felt at that time.
Apparently, regardless of the fact that Annabeth might serve as a reminder of loss or not, Sally was not unhappy to see her. They recounted the day's events to Percy's mother, an easy flow of conversation drifting between them. It warmed Annabeth's heart every time she saw the glowing concern and pride shining in Sally's eyes. It gave a sweet, delicious taste of the delight of having a mother. A real mother- not a distant, cold goddess who occasionally would answer a prayer then return to her Olympian palace without a second thought regarding her young daughter struggling down in the mortal world. The thought might have angered her, as it did every time it crossed her mind, but the warmth of the biscuit flooding through her, the tightness of Percy's grip in hers, the comfort of this small, cosy apartment, all of this quenched the red that sometimes threatened to cloud her vision, the fury that often began to simmer through her bones.
Finally, when the plate of cookies was empty, and the mugs were drained of chocolate, Sally placed her hands on the table and heaved herself up. "I should go and work on my novel," She told them, making towards the door. "Annabeth, stay for a while, won't you?" Annabeth grinned. Of course, she would never say this, but Sally's requesting her to say warmed her more than she cared to admit. It felt good to finally be wanted, be included. That was certainly not the case at home, where the only attention she would generally get was her stepmother breathing down her neck, issuing orders and reprimands in her direction, or her brothers trying to involve her in a stupid game of hide-and-seek, Duplo, whatever. It was true that at home it was near impossible to move her from her bedroom. But even so, being acknowledged, being so obviously loved, it was a beautiful feeling to Annabeth.
Percy tugged on her hand, pulling her towards his room. Annabeth realised with a start that she had never been in there, despite the countless visits she had payed Sally. It had been too painful, she supposed, to go in there, the last times she had been here. Too strong a reminder of the boy she loved, the boy who had gone missing. And the only other time, before last year, that she had been to the apartment, had been just before the height of the Titan war. There had hardly been time for chit-chat, let alone a tour of the house. Now, though, as she followed Percy through the door, she couldn't say she was surprised. It was very, very Percy. Obviously, it was a mess, but it was nowhere near as bad as her room had been when he had come to hers. The mess was sort of purposeful, as though it was all purely for decoration. Clothes, pencils, a few weapons, all scattered across the floor, the bed, the desk. But it was artful. It didn't overwhelm the eye when she looked at it. On the bedside table, a few drachmas were piled, along with a glass prism and a torch. Iris-messages, she thought. The wardrobe door was ever so slightly open, demonstrating the vast amount of garments stored there.
Percy lobbed his school bag into the corner. It must have been very light for it to fly so well. It crashed against the far wall and dropped like a stone. An audible crash was heard from within. "Oops." Percy tried to look concerned, but failed epically. Then, without another look, he strolled across the room and slid apart some curtains, revealing sliding glass doors, and beyond that, a small balcony. Grabbing her hand, he led her out.
They stood together, staring out at the New York skyline. This was a perfect spot, Annabeth thought. The mid afternoon sun beat down on the city, reflecting off the sleek, crystal skyscrapers, reaching up towards the clouds, towards the heavens, towards Olympus. Central Park, a perfect rectangle, a break from the bustling metropolis, giving way to the luscious green of the park. Mortals went about their days below, unaware of the power that dwelled just six-hundred stories above their heads. They were so unfairly ignorant. Adults rushed around, grabbing a bite for lunch before running back to wherever they worked, to attend to whatever task was in calling. Teenagers lurked in parks, skipping school, laughing, talking, several of them smoking. Yes, it may be unfair that they could never be another if these people. But at the same time, Annabeth had Percy. That made all this demigod thing, all this always about to die thing, worthwhile, She would sooner live this life with Percy, than another one without him.
As if sensing her thought process, Percy spun to face her. He first grabbed her hands, then threw his arms around her. Gods, she loved her Seaweed Brain so, so much, she thought. Annabeth returned the gesture, and together they stood, bodies wrapped around each, for a while. The sun shone on them, a spotlight sent down from the goddess of love. They were the example of love,she Annabeth supposed. The example of pain, the example of tragedy and happiness. She didn't mind though. Not as long as it was Percy with her. The embrace slowly, surely turned to a kiss. First, it was slow, gentle. A reminder that, for all their battle scars, they were still just mortals. Two children, weak, delicate and in love. They were just dust, shadows in the huge immensity of the universe that even the Gods couldn't fill up. Then the kiss turned more passionate. The flame of lovers, of passion, of hope. They rose above this city, above the world, above the Gods. The became the world. Not in the way that Gaia was the world, but in their own form, where the only thing that mattered was their other half, as their souls strained, caged in mortal bodies, to meet and become one. They were meant to be one. Two beings, one soul. Together, they flew, intoxicated on each other, on love, on pain. It was such a feeling, such an emotion, that she felt herself going numb, forgetting who she was, where she was, what she was doing, only the feel of Percy beneath her, his lips on hers, their arms around each other, so close, so, so close. They were one person.
Eventually, they broke apart, and stared at each other, drinking each other in, drowning in the other's gaze. Nothing needed to be said. All that could be conveyed through the power of speech, it had been conveyed better than anything either of them could have said through the kiss, through the beat of each other's hearts, through the love they held for each other. Wordlessly, the joined hands and rested them on the railing, staring at the linked fingers that connected them to each other. Percy's eyes were shining, stars despite the clear blue of the sky above them, clear of clouds now that the storm had passed. Or was that just the sun reflecting off the ocean depths? Whichever, it didn't matter to Annabeth. Eventually, they threw their arms around each other and walked back into the apartment, together, as one.
The sun was just beginning to dip beneath the horizon when they heard the sound of keys turning in a lock, and a man's voice yelled "I'm home!" A door slammed somewhere down the hall, and the muffled thump of slippered feet resounded through the hall outside. Percy turned to Annabeth. "Paul's home," He told her. "Come say hi." He stretched a hand out to her. Annabeth tried to sigh, annoyed, but couldn't quite pull it off. In truth, she was endeared by Percy's constant gentlemanly attempts. She took his hand and let herself be hoisted up.