August

Poseidon helped Percy pack his bags. He tried not to stare at the pictures of Sally in her apartment. He had a hole in his heart and looking at any picture of her reminded him of it, he couldn't imagine what Percy was feeling.

He tried to gage Percy's emotions to make sure he didn't get too overwhelmed, but Percy kept his head down while he packed. Mostly, Poseidon was watching for any sign of his son going into another fit of shock.

Percy's crutches clicked on the floor as he used them to move around the apartment. Poseidon noticed straight away that his son was in physical pain and at some points struggled with using them. Poseidon wanted to rattle some sense into him, but Percy still chose to get around in crutches.

"Are you ready?" Poseidon asked softly.

Percy nodded looking down at the floor. This was the same apartment that he was raised in since he was a baby. Percy only originally packed for his summer stay with them, but now he has to pack everything he wanted to take for a permanent stay.

Percy took one last look before exiting the door with him. Poseidon already called an Uber, Percy didn't seem traumatized during the Uber from the hospital to his apartment and Poseidon is hoping that will stay true to the ride to the airport.

He helped put Percy's bags into the trunk before hopping in the backseat besides him. He distastefully eyed Percy's crutches which sat in between them, that's going to be a pain in security.

Their flight is split up into two separate flights. Their first takes them from California to Texas. Their second is between Texas to New York. Even if it's before dawn, they'll be lucky if they it make home around dinner.

Poseidon thanked the Uber driver after he helped them get the bags out from his trunk. Poseidon had several bags he had to carry, Percy couldn't carry one since he's on crutches.

"Let's go and get this over with. We can request a wheelchair so you are able to get through security without the crutches." Poseidon attempted to reason with the sorry teen.

"No. I'll be fine, all I have to do is hop a few steps through the metal detector." Percy said.

Poseidon really wished he inherited Sally's common sense, but he ended with his stubbornness. Poseidon guessed that's his own fault.

Poseidon winced as watched Percy hop through the metal detectors, he was having a hard time trying not to loose balance. The TSA Agents were not impressed, but nevertheless let him pass.

Poseidon had first class tickets, their seating is at least comfortable. His brother Zeus had a good deal with airline companies from his expertise in meteorology, his deal extends down to all of his families members as well.

Percy who had the window seat had his eyes glued out the window, it appeared he was lost in his thoughts. Poseidon let him be, it's a big change. Hopefully he'll be able to fulfill the duty as a parent and try to be there as much as Sally was there for Percy.

Percy ignored any attempts his father made at a conversation, the last thing he wanted is to engage in small talk.

The only thing Percy could think about was the life he's leaving behind; A loving mother, step father. He struggled with the thought he would never see them again. He was really close to his mother, she was there after every teacher deemed him unteachable, she was there for every birthday and every Christmas, and now... She will never be there for another one.

He shifted his gaze to the window of the airplane looking at the display of white clouds. He was numb to the situation as he had three months to process it all, only sometimes when he let his guard down does he feel the pain for what he lost.

His mind wandered to the future, what will it hold? Percy almost snorted, it will probably be the same as when he's there over the summer, but worse. Amphitrite will be all sweet and jolly when his father is around, but the second he leaves, she'll tell him how useless he is with only one leg. Triton doesn't give a shit about what he does, as long as it doesn't get in his way. His father will try to be there for him for the first couple weeks, but work will stray him away.

Then there's the extended family; he doesn't talk to most of them but the few that he does will change. Thalia will be the constant mother hen and check up on him. Nico will stare at him and avoid talking to him, afraid he will say something wrong. Jason will try and cheer him up, talk about anything except for the accident.

School... that will be another nightmare, he had a hard time as it is making friends and now he's being thrown into another school. Not to mention, he didn't know how will his father respond to his grades as he couldn't get them any higher than a C.

Percy leaned further back into his chair, he's so excited to start his new life, he willed the plane to swallow him whole.

Poseidon never thought he would miss seeing the New York skyscrapers, but seeing them again in the first time in three months made him feel at home. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw his car in the airport parking lot.

Poseidon hopped in the drivers seat while Percy quietly slid into the passenger's seat. Percy's silence is very unnerving, but he didn't want to push it. He just put the radio on to help drown the silence, while he got lost in his own thoughts.

Poseidon is beyond terrified about how his wife is going to react when he gets home. She's been giving him the silent treatment or been giving him very short responses since their last fight a week ago.

His friend Daedalus has a Newfoundland dog who's been trained to be a therapy dog, and he's giving it away. Poseidon offered to take it after hearing Hazel's advice about getting a therapy animal. He planned on giving it to Percy on his birthday on Tuesday, which is five days away from today.

The problem is Poseidon made it final without Amphitrite's permission. He informed her about it last week, and to say she furious is an understatement. She does not like pets, it's not like she allergic to them, she just doesn't like them. That's one hurtle, the next hurtle is that isn't a small dog; It's a massive breed that looks the size of a small black bear.

Poseidon sighed as he pulled in the driveway. The house looks the same as always; a two story house with dark blue-grey panels on the outside, and a large backyard with a swimming pool, and a decent sized front yard.

He grabbed Percy's bags while Percy stood awkwardly behind him with his crutches. Amphitrite opened the front door before he even opened the screen door. She had a grin plastered on her face, and she wore a casual t-shirt with jeans.

"Hello Percy, it's good to see you. I'm very sorry for your loss, but you're very welcomed here. Let me get that Poseidon" Amphitrite grabbed the bags from his hands and took it upstairs to Percy's room.

That went better than Poseidon expected. He assume she would be cold at the least, but maybe she pulled it together for Percy's sake? He'll probably still get an earful later from her.

Poseidon watched as Percy made his way upstairs. He winced when he almost fell with the crutches. He almost went to aid him, then he remembered Percy chose the crutches and he'll need to deal with those consequences.

Poseidon eyes scanned around to see if Amphitrite changed anything around the house he's been gone for three months for. Everything seemed to be the same, Amphitrite was never the one to redecorate.

His eyes landed on Triton, who was slinking lower on the couch trying to avoid his presence.

They haven't had the best communication after Triton's birthday. Poseidon tried calling him several times after that day and he never picked up, Triton only answered some texts with one word. Poseidon believes Triton only texted a question about how to calm Delphin down when he was in a frenzy. It's obvious that he's still upset with him, and Poseidon's not quite sure how to fix it?

"Triton how have you been? We haven't really talked to each other in these last three months."

Triton sunk lower on the couch practically half falling off the couch since he was vertical instead of horizontal.

"Triton, have I not taught you manners young man? Go greet your father you haven't seen him in three months!" Amphitrite scolded heading to the kitchen to cook dinner.

Maybe she isn't as mad as Poseidon thought she was? He didn't think she would come to his defense like that? But then again she never took sass or disrespect from Triton.

Triton reluctantly got up from the couch, he began to walk awkwardly towards him, his hands shoved into pockets.

"Hi dad." Triton greeted with an almost mumble tone.

Poseidon rolled his eyes as Triton converted back into a shy toddler. Poseidon took initiative and pulled him into a hug, Triton was as stiff as a board, but he softly patted his father's back in return.

"Well was that so hard?" Poseidon sarcastically asked while pulling away.

Triton retreated his hands back into his pockets with a scowl stalking to the kitchen. Poseidon rolled his eyes once more; "teenagers" he mumbled under his breath.

Poseidon went to go greet his wife in the kitchen. She has her back turned as she's cooking the ground beef on the stove.

"I never been more excited to have a home cooked meal. Having hospital food for months on end gets tiring very fast" Poseidon said leaning on the countertop.

Amphitrite turned with a smile on her face, "You're in luck, we're having tacos tonight."

Amphitrite behavior was confusing. Maybe Poseidon was worried about nothing? Maybe Amphitrite finally is getting warmed up to Percy?

"Does this mean you're not mad about the dog?" Poseidon asked, but quickly regretted it as his wife's expression changed.

Her smile instantly fell off her face and she waved the wooden spatula in her hand.

"Don't push it Poseidon. I'm beyond furious what you've done. I'm just trying to put what is done behind us. Don't push it."

Poseidon let out a sigh, there'll be an argument tonight. She won't put it behind her, it's just her way of saying, 'I don't want to make a scene'. For now he decided to keep his mouth shut on the subject.

"Well, I'm gonna start to unpack my stuff." Poseidon departed from the kitchen without waiting for his wife's response.

Amphitrite already took the bags up to their bedroom. The luggage is laying on the neatly made bed. He took his sweet time putting his items away, giving Amphitrite some time to cool off.

Percy stood in his room that he hasn't been in over a year. Nothing changed from the last time he was here. The walls were still a turquoise color, the carpet was the same, his queen sized bed was the same. He stared at the room trying to find any difference of the room, but coming up empty handed he set to unpack.

After putting away everything, his stomach growled. He glanced up at the clock that read 7:45 pm. He grabbed his crutches and began the slow journey downstairs, as he finally made it to the kitchen, he got a waft of tacos. If there was one thing that Amphitrite was good at, it was cooking.

To Percy's dismay his father wasn't in the kitchen, it was only Triton and Amphitrite. His stomach dropped as he didn't know what they're response will be to him.

"Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to be useful and serve yourself some dinner" Amphitrite said while glaring at him.

Welcome home Percy. Welcome home.

Daedalus - Taken from the fourth book in the PJ series The Battle Of The Labyrinth. Daedalus had a massive friendly hellhound that Percy later obtained.