Me: You guys are just awesomesause. For reals. Side note: Part Tres of the Seeking Solace series!

This is: Questioning

Percy, Rachel

Summary preview: Some questions were sharper than knives.

-100DIWPJ-

Percy inhaled deeply trying to stable his emotions.

He could do this. If for the sake of his children if nothing else. Rachel put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a small smile. Percy returned a wavering smile and knocked rapidly on the door in front of them.

He could hear his mother's light footsteps as she rushed towards the door. It only just opened when Percy was suddenly entangled in her arms. "I am so so sorry, Percy." she whispered, rubbing his back.

"Not your fault, Mom."

"Come on inside, both of you. Paul is with the kids and-" Sally was cut short as Kayden wandered into the room and happily exclaimed, "Dad! Kirsten, Dad's back!"

"DADDY!"

Percy was suddenly tackled in little arms and happy grins. Paul suddenly came into view looking sheepish. Percy moved to be at a similar height with his children and hugged them back just as fiercely.

He took a moment to question what exactly his children had done to have their mother taken away at the age of eight. Fate despised him, that was no secret. But his children didn't deserve this. Not now and likely not ever.

Kayden was the first to pull away. "What are you doing here, Dad? Grandma Sally said that you wouldn't be back until tomorrow. I'm glad you're here though, 'cause we missed you. Oh! Do we get to see Mom since you're here today? Is she here? Did she get to come home early? Or do we have to go visit her at the hospital?" Kayden questioned, his eyes lighting up at the thought of his mother.

Kirsten pulled back as well and squealed. "Yeah! Can we go see Mama, Dad? Pleeeaasseee?"

Percy's heart tighten the longer their questioning went on. He was going to have to tell them no. They wouldn't ever get to see and talk with their mother again. Percy opened his mouth to tell them then froze.

"So can we, Dad?" Kayden asked once more at his silence.

Percy sighed. "You know that your mother has been very very sick lately with cancer. And sometimes,-" Percy stopped to clear his throat. "Sometime cancer patients don't... They don't... Your mom didn't make it. I am so very sorry."

Maybe they would under the severity of that for a few more years yet. But they deserved to at least have someone try to explain what had taken their mother away from them.

The faces staring back at him mirrored in their horror. "But- but you s-said she would be ho-home tomorrow! You promised!" Kayden protested, voice catching.

"I know. I know and I am so sorry." Percy responded.

"We won't get to see Mama anymore?" Kirsten whispered.

Percy could only shake his head. Kirsten burst into tears and climbed into his lab, clutching his shirt. Kayden, never one for loud messy tears, quietly settled himself beside Percy and hugged him tightly. Percy held them both and cry with them, in remembrance of one wonderful Annabeth Jackson nee Chase.

-100DIWPJ-

Hours later, long after Percy had tucked the twins into one of Sally's guest rooms, Rachel found him lying on her couch staring at nothing.

"You doing okay?" she asked, leaning into his line of sight.

Percy blinked once before giving her a soft smile. "I will be, I think. It helped being around the twins and they need me. And I understand now that I was being an utter jerk ignoring you guys when you needed me too. I hope Thalia isn't as furious with me as I think she is, though."

Rachel sat on the ground, leaning against the couch. "She isn't even mad. We know you needed your time to grieve. Just- just promise me that you won't ever lose yourself like that again. You scared us, Percy. You scared me." Rachel quietly admitted.

Percy leaned towards her. "I'm sorry about that too." His smile grew. "And of course I promise. It's just... I never imagined anything could hurt like that. Maybe I was in shock. Actually, yeah. I probably was. But it won't happen again. Swear on the Styx." he assured her, the familiar thunder rumbling outside.

Rachel nodded. "Good. You know what we need? What all of us need? To get together soon and talk about the good, happy memories we had of Annabeth. You and me, Thalia, Grover, and Malcom. If we can make it to camp, I'm sure Chiron would love being there too. What do you say?" Rachel suggested.

"Yeah. That... that would be great."

-100DIWPJ-

Thoughts?

Last in the Seeking Solace series, but this AU world will pop up now and then.

Next chapter: Blood

~ Anna/ Booklover98