After the battle for the Doors of Death is done, Piper and Jason force feed Annabeth and me some Ambrosia and nectar. I pick myself off the ground as soon as I have the strength swearing to Never listen to "Escape" or have a Pina Colada again in my life. I look at the sky and remember Bob and Damasen and the sacrifice they gave to free me and Annabeth. Annabeth. My wife. I look down at her, still passed out in the dirt with Piper carefully giving her nectar. I can feel the water vapor in the air around me, giving me strength. She doesn't get the same benefit from it as me.
"It's ok, Pipes. I got her." I say and try not to stumble as I kneel down to pick her up. "We can do this on the ship." I have to fight to not fall over as I slide my arms under her neck and knees and stand to my feet.
"Percy, I can get her to the Argo II. You can barely walk yourself, man you don't need to carry her too." Jason tells me, putting his arms out for Annabeth.
"I've got this." I say, and let him lead the way to the ship. Once we're on board I double check with Piper that ambrosia and nectar are stocked in my cabin and head there with Annabeth in my arms.
"Hey! Jackson! I don't care if you did just go through Hell, you can't take Chase to your-" Hedge starts, but I throw my wolf look his way. "Just tonight. And nothing other than sleeping!" He says as he backs up. I get to my cabin and lay Annabeth down on the bed. After taking off her socks, shoes, belt, and reaching up her back to unclip her sports bra and slide it out the side of her shirt, I check her temperature. She's already burning up from the ambrosia, so I have to wait to give her more. In the meantime I go to the bathroom and fill up the sink with hot and soapy water, then guide the water over her skin, washing and cleaning everything with just the slightest bit of pressure for a good scrub. I take saltwater without soap and do the same to the inside of her mouth, gently as I can. I know how conscious she is about brushing her teeth, this is the best I can do for her. When I'm done, I dry the water from her skin and clothes, but leave her hair damp and towel dry it, Best I can. I grab a comb and lay her head in my lap, combing out the tangles in her thick princess curls. It takes a good while, her hair hasn't been brushed in over a week since before we fell into Tartarus. Once I'm done I flip her over so she's face down in my lap, but still a couple inches off the Pegasi Down mattress so she can breathe and I french braid her hair, something I got pretty good at once we started dating. Especially from this angle. She loved me playing with her hair, wanted me to all the time, but always wanted to be laying down. It was impossible at first, I always got my hands tangled in her curls. After a couple months, I had mastered it. I check her forehead again and realize she still has a fever. Sighing, I move her to one side of the bed and on her side, how I know she likes to sleep. Then I go and take a hot shower, the hottest I can muster, and like what I did with her, guide and pressurize the suds all over me to get rid of any dirt, sweat, and grime I've gotten over the last week and a half. I do it so hard it leaves my skin raw, but the water heals it quick enough. When I'm finished, I pull on a pair of navy sweatpants and crawl into bed next to her. I pull her close to me, deciding to pull up the sheet but not the covers. She's feverish enough, I can feel it through her shirt that she's still burning. In the morning, it'll be worth the risk to give her more nectar. For now, she'll have to wait it out, thankfully in my arms. My arms. The arms of her husband. I smile and kiss her right behind her ear.
"You're not getting away from me. Never Again." I whisper, then sink my head into the pillow.
I feel uneasy, even now that we're back in the mortal world. I just have this nagging feeling of discontent. What's the point of all this? Every day is the same. Wake up, eat, either fight a monster or train to do so, and try not to die. I push the thought aside as I look at Annabeth sleeping beside me. I guess the gods figured we'd had enough of a hard time for now, cause I fell into the same sleep I somehow knew Annabeth was having. A dreamless one.
…
The next morning I wake up to Annabeth still in my arms. She had rolled over though, and was now facing me with her body pressed against mine and our legs all tangled up. I smile and kiss her forehead, which makes her let out a soft and cute 'mmmmmm' in her sleep. Her temperature seems to have gone back to Normal, making me let out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding.
"Annabeth." I say as I unwrap myself from her, leaving my chest and torso cold where she was. "Annabeth." I say again and shake her ever so slightly. "C'mon Wise Girl, wake up." Her eyes tighten then blink open.
"Percy? Where are we?" I laugh softly and kiss her gently.
"We're back on the Argo II, Annabeth. We made it." She smiles for a second, then it falls off her face.
"Bob. And Damasen." I purse my lips and grip her hand tightly.
"I know. They were my first thoughts too. They died so we could escape."
"Maybe they'll regenerate?"
"Maybe, Wise Girl. I don't know if they can if Tartarus won't let them. I don't know how that works. But it's safe to assume it won't happen in our life."
"You're right. But we have to remember them. Make sure everyone knows they died heroes. If we do, maybe They'll have enough of a legacy to return one day."
"Good thinking. But for now, let's just worry about getting through today." I tell her and lean down to kiss her forehead. "You need some ambrosia." I tell her and hand her a square. She takes a bite, and seems to have to force it down. "Still taste like movie night with your dad?" She nods.
"Yes, but my throat still is so raw from the fire river. Not hurt, just…raw. Ambrosia should help. Got any nectar?"
"Pace yourself, Wise Girl." I say and hand her a glass. She downs the whole thing in one gulp, then falls over, grasping her stomach. "Annabeth!" I exclaim and feel her forehead, which is back to burning a fever. "Annabeth c'mon! You know better than to drink that much after taking ambrosia."
"I know I know. It just…After the fire river, it just felt good to drink again. It'll pass, Percy. I just need some more rest." I kiss her forehead.
"I'm going to go get us some breakfast. Sit tight, I'll be right back."
When I walk into the dining hall, everyone is already there. Piper sees me first and perks up right away. She looks pretty as always, but less rested than normal. That's pretty consistent with everyone else too.
"How's Annabeth?" She asks, and everyone else notices I walked in.
"Conscious. Exhausted. Feverish from too much ambrosia and nectar. But she'll be okay. We're going to have breakfast in the cabin."
"About that, Jackson." Coach Hedge starts and I roll my eyes. "I let it slide last night since she was unconscious and needed care, but you can't expect me to let Chase-"
"Jackson." I cut him off. "Her last name is Jackson now." A silence falls over everyone. Piper's jaw seems to have hit the floor. Jason looks surprised but nods his approval. Frank looks nervously between me and Hedge, but he looks a lot more confident and sure of himself than I remember before. Leo has an impish grin, and I already know where his dirty mind is going. Hazel is grinning from ear to ear. Coach Hedge clears his throat.
"Rules are campers can't sleep in the same cabin."
"You try and drag her out of there, Hedge I dare you." I say with my wolf look and a snarl in my voice. The old goat tries to hide it, but he lets out a nervous bleat.
"But, if you two decided to tie the knot, I guess that's an exception. But don't any of you other cupcakes get any ideas!" He says, swings his bat around and heads back to his cabin.
"I'm going to take Annabeth breakfast." I say as I grab two plates and cups. "We'll be out soon as she's feeling strong enough." As I walk away, I see Piper still hasn't picked her jaw up off the floor.